US House to vote on bipartisan bill to support 'Israel' attack on Iran

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
15 Apr 2024 11:00
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Axios reports that the bill will push for additional funding to "Israel" and the full implementation of sanctions on Iran.

The United States Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 31, 2020. (AFP)

The United States House garnered dozens of new votes on Sunday backing a bill for later this week, which would see sanctions on Iran and its Resistance regional allies, and support for "Israel" to attack Iran following the Islamic Republic's military response on early Sunday morning.

Iran's strikes, described by Western media as "unprecedented," came in response to an Israeli aggression two weeks ago targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The Israeli attack resulted in the martyrdom of seven senior IRGC advisors, including Brigadier General martyr Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the leader of the IRGC's Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.

The bipartisan bill will replace another non-related vote earlier pushed by Republicans as a means to pressure US President Joe Biden to take further action against Tehran.

Republicans are scheduled to meet Monday evening ahead of this week's vote to discuss "Iran's recent attack on Israel and defense supplemental funding," Axios reported citing an invite presented to the news site.

New sanctions on Iran?

According to the legislation, the United States would be required to "fully implement" sanctions on Iran and ensure that they are not being bypassed. Furthermore, it would restrict Iranian imports and transactions with US financial institutions, in addition to sanctioning Chinese firms purchasing Iranian oil.

Other bills would target Resistance groups described as "terror groups" by the US, particularly Hamas.

The European Union will also be urged to designate the IRGC as a "terrorist organization," something that the EU has been steering away from. It will also call on the bloc to label the phrase "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic.

As per the resolution introduction by Rep. Tom Kean (R-N.J.), the House "stands with Israel as it ... seeks to re-establish deterrence against Iran and its proxies."

It would also affirm the entity's "right to respond to this aggression through military, diplomatic, economic, and other necessary means."

'Support for Israel; take action against Iran'

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) stated that the bill aims to "demonstrate our support of Israel and take action against Iran."

"These bills ... represent a comprehensive response to the Iranian threat by supporting Israel's response to the attack and sanctioning Iran's leaders, cutting off their revenue sources, and targeting their partners and terrorist proxies," he added.

The bills will need at least two-thirds of the members present and voting to agree in order to pass, which is a higher threshold than a simple majority. However, because many of the bills have support from both Democrats and Republicans, they have a good chance of meeting this requirement and passing.

Votes including a possible aid package to "Israel", Ukraine, and Taiwan, are likely to be more controversial and face more disagreement among lawmakers, as there remains significant disagreement and debate between the two major political parties which has been ongoing for the past few months.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has announced plans to introduce a separate bill focused on "Israel". There is also a possibility that a Ukraine aid package, which could include certain conditions or adjustments making it challenging for Democrats to support, will be considered.

Several Democrats, including Biden, have encouraged Speaker Johnson to bring up the Senate's $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, "Israel", and Taiwan to the House floor when it reconvenes on Monday.

Biden reiterated this during a call with Johnson and other congressional leaders on Sunday, as reported in a White House summary of the call.