President Joe Biden
The White House indicated this week that it intends to seek congressional approval for a new arms aid package for Ukraine and Israel for significantly more than $2 billion.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that President Joe Biden will lobby Congress this week on the importance of passing the package as Ukraine’s 20-month war with Russia rages on with no end in sight and Israel appears poised to launch a ground invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas militants’ Oct. 7th unexpected assault on Israel.
President Biden may possibly include aid to Taiwan and migration control along the southern US border with Mexico in the hopes of gaining legislation.
After meeting with Israeli officials in Jerusalem, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the Senate would move fast to approve additional funds for Israel.
“We will work to move this aid through the Senate ASAP, and the Israeli leaders made it clear to us they need the aid quickly,” Schumer said.
He stated that Israel’s requirements include more interceptors for its Iron Dome missile defense system, which has been continuously shooting down Hamas rockets from Gaza, as well as precision weapons.
However, several Republican politicians in the United States, particularly in the politically turbulent House of Representatives, have come out opposing additional US aid to Ukraine.
That left the Biden administration hoping to gain congressional support for help to Kyiv by linking it to aid to Israel. In response, some Republicans have already rejected combining the two aid packages, casting doubt on the overall prospects.
The current political upheaval in the majority Republican caucus complicates approval of any relief plan in the House. Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted nearly two weeks ago by a small faction of right-wing members, and Republicans have been unable to agree on a replacement. There has been no action on any legislation because there is no speaker in the chamber.
