The U.S. House of Representatives passed today the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 (H.R. 2410) that includes extensive support for Israel and may foreshadow coming debates between the White House and Congress. Even though the bill would regulate the State Department and ensure Congressional oversight of various programs, authorization bills do not always clear Congress by the end of the fiscal year, leaving them irrelevant. However, provisions in the legislation could be incorporated into an appropriations bill (or omnibus spending bill) that would mandate certain actions from the State Department. The notable provisions include:
- SEC. 845. REPORT ON UNITED STATES’ COMMITMENTS TO THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL. This section would mandate the release to Congress of any promises made to Israel by U.S. officials since 1975. In recent weeks, the State Department refused to comment extensively on a letter from the George W. Bush White House to the Israeli government that allegedly mentions U.S. support for settlements. This section may eventually lead Congress to demand transperancy on that letter.
- SEC. 1126. EFFORTS TO SECURE THE FREEDOM OF GILAD SHALIT. The text reads, “It is the sense of Congress that Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive continuously since his illegal abduction by Gazan kidnappers in 2006, should be safely released at the earliest possible time and that, pending his release, the International Committee of the Red Cross should be granted full access to him, in accordance with international law and civilized values.”
- SEC. 1006. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL. This section mandates a report from the Department of State on efforts to involve Israel in the global community. Because peace plans supported by the United States advocate establishing relations between Israel and the entire Arab world (including the Arab Peace Initiative), this section could foreshadow peace overtures from the Obama Administration.
- SEC. 1008. REPORTS ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN GAZA. With the United States pledging $900 million to the Palestinian Authority ($300 million for Gaza relief), Congress seeks a report on the status of devastation in Gaza and the method of disseminating the funds.
- SEC. 848. SUPPORT TO ISRAEL FOR MISSILE DEFENSE. This section would authorize funding to assist the “co-development of joint ballistic missile, medium and short-range projectile defense projects with Israel,” including Israel’s exceptional anti-ballistic-missile rocket the Arrow. Effectively, this section represents Congress’ desire to assist Israel in preventing an Iranian nuclear missile from striking the country.