US House defeats amendment to block deeper Israel‑US military integration

On a Thursday voice vote, the House Armed Services Committee rejected an amendment introduced by Representative Ro Khanna that sought to strip Section 224 from the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 224 would require the Pentagon chief to appoint an executive agent to coordinate joint research, development, testing, evaluation, integration and industrial cooperation between the United States and Israel, effectively deepening U.S.–Israel military‑industrial integration.

Supporters argued the provision safeguards U.S. security interests and enhances missile‑defense and AI collaboration, while opponents warned it would create a “blank check” for Israel, obscure aid oversight and tether U.S. defense technology to Israeli systems. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the measure, and pro‑Israel lawmakers defended it as beneficial to both nations.

Separately, a Senate Intelligence Authorization Act proposal would limit a future president’s ability to curtail intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, requiring documented justification for any reduction and emphasizing the need to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge and integrated missile‑defense architecture.