Jacob Magid

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US correspondent based in New York

Final tally of the House vote on Iron Dome funding bill, September 23, 2021. (Screen capture/C-SPAN)

September 25, 2021, 3:37 am

In the end, House Iron Dome fracas only showed Israel support not going anywhere

Serious alarm was voiced after Squad managed to delay funds’ approval; but a hurriedly arranged 420-9 vote to okay the aid 2 days later merely proved bipartisan backing is ironclad

By Jacob Magid

From Top L-R Reps. Jesus Garcia, Raul Grijalva, Rashida Tlaib, Thomas Massie, Andre Carson, Marie Newman, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hank Johnson. (Composite/AP)

September 25, 2021, 1:23 am

US lawmakers who opposed or abstained on Iron Dome funding explain their vote

Many of those opposed blame rushed process, ignored procedures; some uncomfortable with high price tag; others point to Israeli ‘war crimes’

By Jacob Magid

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York attends a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

September 25, 2021, 1:03 am

‘Yes, I wept’: AOC assails ‘unjust, reckless process’ on bill to fund Iron Dome

Progressive lawmaker says Jerusalem does not deserve more money on top of what it already receives, pans House leadership for creating ‘tinderbox of vitriol, disingenuous framing’

By Jacob Magid

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seen visibly shaken up after casting 'present' vote on Iron Dome funding bill on the House floor on September 23, 2021. (Screen capture/Twitter)

September 24, 2021, 5:43 pm

AOC seen visibly shaken after casting vote to abstain on Iron Dome funding bill

Progressive congresswoman who pushed to have $1 billion removed from separate spending bill changes her vote at last minute from ‘no’ to ‘present’

By Jacob Magid

Pro-Israel demonstrators protest in New York City against Ben and Jerry's over its settlement boycott on August 12, 2021. (Luke Tress/Flash90)

September 24, 2021, 4:45 pm

Texas takes steps to divest from Ben & Jerry’s following settlement boycott

Ice cream giant, parent company added to state’s list of companies that boycott Israel, which will likely see Texas divest $100 million in state pension funds within 90 days

By Jacob Magid

(L-R) Reps. Brad Schneider, Joe Wilson and Stephanie Murphy. (Composite/AP)

September 24, 2021, 1:13 am

Bipartisan Congressional bill seeks to boost US-Israel military cooperation

Legislation envisions creation of US-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group, which would allow for streamlining of military technology and intelligence cooperation

By Jacob Magid

Rep. Andy Levin speaks at a press conference introducing his "Two-State Solution Act" on Capitol Hill, Sept. 23, 2021. He is flanked by, from left: Hadar Susskind, the president and CEO of Americans for Peace Now; Rep. Alan Lowenthal; Rep. Sara Jacobs; Rep. Peter Welch; and J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. (Ron Kampeas/JTA)

September 24, 2021, 1:05 am

Progressive Dems introduce bill they say aims at keeping 2-state solution alive

Bill, which would widely bar use of US defense aid in territories, faces uphill battle; moderate Dems group calls it counterproductive, bad policy that asks nothing of Palestinians

By Jacob Magid

A flag of Israel and an American flag are displayed on a table during a meeting between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the Pentagon in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

September 23, 2021, 11:03 pm

Israeli leaders, US Jews laud House approval of $1 billion for Iron Dome

AIPAC says 420-9 vote ‘repudiates efforts by those in Congress who are pursuing a dangerous agenda to undermine the US-Israel relationship’

By Amy Spiro and Jacob Magid

Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system is launched to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip, above the southern city of Ashkelon, on May 17, 2021. (Ahmad Gharabli / AFP)

September 23, 2021, 10:06 pm

US House overwhelmingly advances Iron Dome funding initially scotched by ‘Squad’

420 vote in favor of $1b for Israeli missile defense system; 8 progressive Dems and 1 Republican oppose it, 2 Dems vote ‘present’; legislation moves on to Senate; PM lauds approval

By Jacob Magid

A Palestinian pupil walks past United Nations Relief and Works Agency, (UNRWA) and USAID humanitarian aid, on June 6, 2010 in the Shatie refugee camp in Gaza City. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

September 23, 2021, 6:34 am

Top Republican releases remaining Palestinian aid he held up for months

Senator Jim Risch approves payment of last $20 million of $75 million package pledged by Biden, but insists it be reprogrammed for food aid, not funneled to terrorists

By Jacob Magid

Rockets from Gaza, on right, are seen in the night sky fired toward Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021, while Iron Dome interceptor missiles, on left, rise to meet them. (Anas Baba/AFP)

September 23, 2021, 1:32 am

$1 billion in Iron Dome funding introduced in Congress as separate bill

After sum removed from larger spending bill due to progressive pressure, House Appropriations chair says ‘commitment to the security of our friend and ally Israel is ironclad’

By TOI staff and Jacob Magid

US President Biden's Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 22, 2021. (Screen capture/Senate Foreign Relations Committee)

September 22, 2021, 9:15 pm

US nominee for Israel envoy tells confirmation panel he backs Iron Dome funding

Biden’s pick Tom Nides faces Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urges two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict, declares Jerusalem is Israeli capital

By Jacob Magid

(From left) Democratic representatives Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts respond to remarks by US President Donald Trump after his call for the four Democratic congresswomen to go back to their 'broken' countries, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, on July 15, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

September 22, 2021, 10:57 am

‘Squad’ wins symbolic victory on Iron Dome funding – with help from Republicans

$1 billion in missile defense still certain to be okayed, but progressives’ ability to block its inclusion in budget bill shows bloc has more influence than critics assumed

By Jacob Magid

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Democratic Caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on September 21, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP)

September 22, 2021, 4:33 am

Cut out of US spending bill, Iron Dome funding to be brought to a vote this week

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announces intention to call standalone vote for $1 billion supporting Israel’s missile defense system: ‘It will be done’

By Jacob Magid and TOI staff

Iron Dome in action, on May 13, 2021. (Avichai Socher/IDF)

September 22, 2021, 12:34 am

Lapid downplays removal of Iron Dome funding from US budget bill

Foreign minister speaks to House Majority Leader Hoyer, attributes setback to ‘technical’ issues and expresses confidence the pledged $1 billion will soon be approved

By Jacob Magid and TOI staff