

Reuters reports on today’s State Department press conference where Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said US military aid to Israel could be “hindered” if the U.S. government shutdown continues. At 2:45 in the video above Harf explains that fiscal year 2014 funding for Israel (which began October 1) will be unavailable until a new budget is passed.

From Reuters:

A prolonged U.S. federal government shutdown could delay military assistance to Israel and other American allies, the State Department said on Wednesday. “The State Department’s ability to provide military assistance to Israel and other allies in the time frame that is expected and customary could be hindered, depending on the length of the shutdown,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told a news briefing. Harf gave only the specific example of Israel, the largest recipient of U.S. foreign military funding and a country which enjoys strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress.

A prolonged U.S. federal government shutdown could delay military assistance to Israel and other American allies, the State Department said on Wednesday. “The State Department’s ability to provide military assistance to Israel and other allies in the time frame that is expected and customary could be hindered, depending on the length of the shutdown,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told a news briefing. Harf gave only the specific example of Israel, the largest recipient of U.S. foreign military funding and a country which enjoys strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress.

Natasha Mozgovaya was the first to report the comment over Twitter:

StateDept Harf: “Not just furloughs, programs get hindered; incl. aid 2 Israel. Nor business as usual” #shutdown — Natasha Mozgovaya (@mozgovaya) October 2, 2013

Watching the video I wonder if Harf just happens to use aid to Israel as her sole example as a prompt to get AIPAC off the sidelines and pressure Congress to make a deal.

Here is the transcript (emphasis added):