AIPAC Stays Silent On Trump’s Opposition To Israel Missile Defense Aid Boost

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When President Obama threatened to veto extra monies for Israel’s missile defense system, the AIPAC lobby spoke up and denounced the move as a threat to the Jewish state’s security. Now, with the Trump White House opposing the same funding, the powerful organization has been silent.

Last year, the Obama administration threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill if it included an extra $455 million for Israel’s missile defense programs, which include the Iron Dome system. Eventually, the White House dropped its threat and the funding got passed, but only after AIPAC spoke up and faulted the administration’s move.

This year, the Trump administration is opposing another $558 million in increased spending on the Jewish state’s missile defense programs, with no word from AIPAC.

An unnamed AIPAC official defended the discrepancy to Haaretz as sensible given different situations from one administration to the next – Trump has not threatened to veto additional funds appropriated by Congress.

“The situations are entirely different,” the official told the newspaper. “There has been no veto threat issued by the administration over this provision this year.”

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon