From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Omnibus package to be passed by Congress includes Israel Normalization Act
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Wrapped into the $1.5 trillion Omnibus spending bill that Congress is set to pass this week in order to prevent a government shutdown is the Israel Normalization Act.
The legislation will include language supporting a two-state solution, which had been the reason why Republican Senator Ted Cruz was blocking the bill from advancing for months.
The omnibus package will also include $50 million in funding for the Middle East Peace Partnership Act, which grants $250 million in Congressional funding over five years for Israeli-Palestinian dialogue programs and Palestinian business development.
The package also includes $219 million for the Economic Support Fund, which goes toward humanitarian projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This is the highest amount in at least a decade.
Forty million dollars in assistance for the Palestinian security forces is also included in the bill.
The Times of Israel Community.