WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee introduced legislation on Wednesday to provide $1 billion to Israel to replenish its “Iron Dome” missile-defense system, a day after the funding was removed from a broader spending bill.

The provision was opposed by some of the House Democrats who are most liberal and have said that they will vote against the spending bill. It was threatened by Republicans who were opposed to the proposal to raise the borrowing limit and fund the federal government up through December 3.

The Republicans labelled Democrats anti-Israel after the vote was taken. This despite the longstanding tradition of both the Democratic and Republican support of Israel, which Washington provides billions each year.

A Congressional Research Service report from last year shows that the United States already contributed more than $1.6 million to Israel’s development of and building of Iron Dome.

Some Democrats of the liberal spectrum have expressed concerns about U.S. policy towards Israel this year, noting among others Palestinian deaths in Israel’s response to Hamas rocket strikes in May. Iron Dome interceptors blew out most of 4,350 rockets launched from Gaza in the conflict.

Rosa DeLauro introduced Wednesday’s bill that provides $1 billion for the replacement of missile interceptors from that conflict.

Steny Hoyer, House Majority leader, stated on Tuesday that he would present the Iron Dome legislation to the House Floor later in the week.