A congressional panel has rejected an effort by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna to revoke a provision within the defense budget that would further integrate the United States and Israeli militaries. The amendment, aimed at striking the pro-Israel measure from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), failed in a voice vote in the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

This legislative setback means the provision, formally known as Section 224, is now poised to advance to the floor of the House of Representatives. Congressman Khanna had argued that the measure rewards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time when he is perceived as attempting to dictate U.S. policy in the Middle East. Khanna cited recent reports suggesting President Donald Trump's displeasure with Netanyahu over Israel's actions in Lebanon.

Khanna expressed his view that the American public desires a clear message that the United States, not foreign leaders, dictates policy. He stated that the prevailing sentiment is a call for less "blank check" cooperation with Israel, rather than an expansion of it. He characterized the push for increased military cooperation as counterintuitive, especially given current public opinion.

Section 224 would mandate the Pentagon chief to designate an executive agent responsible for synchronizing cooperative efforts between the U.S. and Israel. This official would oversee various joint initiatives, including bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration, and industrial cooperation, as outlined in the NDAA.

Critics have voiced concerns that Section 224 could obscure the nature of U.S. military aid to Israel, potentially masking it as cooperation rather than a distinct expenditure. There is also a risk that the measure could technologically entangle the U.S. military with its Israeli counterpart, particularly as public opinion in the United States appears to be shifting against Israel, according to recent polling data.

The vote was conducted as a voice vote, where members responded audibly with "yes" or "no." The "nays" were reportedly more numerous, but the lack of a recorded roll-call vote means individual member positions were not publicly logged.

Supporters of deeper military cooperation argue that it enhances mutual security interests and strengthens technological development for both nations. They often point to the shared strategic challenges in the Middle East as a justification for robust collaboration.

Opponents, like Congressman Khanna, contend that such measures may not align with evolving U.S. foreign policy objectives or the sentiments of the American populace. The debate highlights a broader tension within Congress regarding the extent and nature of U.S. military support for Israel.