Nine Republican senators are calling for any additional US aid to Israel and Ukraine to be considered separately as the White House is expected to unveil a sweeping $100 billion foreign funding request later this week.
Republican lawmakers made the demand in a letter to Senate leaders, arguing that a joint aid package for the two conflicts could create political complications and ruin the support war-torn Israel needs.
“Israel is one of America’s greatest allies around the world and we must stand firm with them in the wake of the Hamas massacre on October 7 that left more than 1,400 Israelis and 30 Americans brutally murdered,” said Senator Roger Marshall (R- by Kansas). , who drafted the letter, told The Post.
“As we look for ways to help our friends, we anticipate that there will soon be funding proposals to help Israel. My colleagues and I firmly believe that any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions of dollars more to Ukraine. “These are two separate conflicts at different stages and cannot be considered as a ‘global agreement’.”
Roger Marshall demands separate funding for Israel and Ukraine from Senate leadership. AP
The letter, also signed by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind. ), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) — said: “We urge you to maintain separate attempts to provide military aid to Israel from additional funds to Ukraine . or other matters.”
It was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who have indicated they expect the package this week.
At the moment, the next proposal is expected to involve $60 billion for Ukraine and $40 billion for Israel, Taiwan and US border security, NBC News reported.
President Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.ZUMAPRESS.com
In August, President Biden asked Congress for $24 billion to support Ukraine, including $13 billion for security and $7.3 billion for humanitarian and economic assistance.
Congress refused to approve that package and instead narrowly avoided a government shutdown in late September.
The House of Representatives is currently paralyzed following the impeachment of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on October 3, while the Senate seeks to lead the funding package.
Senate leaders accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his trip to Washington, DC in September.AP
“The House is kind of a disaster,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday. “And so we think the best thing to do is pass a big, strong supplemental amendment with strong bipartisan support and that can force the House to act.”
So far, Congress has authorized about $113 billion to Ukraine in humanitarian and military aid, although not all of that money has been spent.
But Biden administration officials warn that funds are running out.
President Biden welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House last month.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Republicans have become increasingly cautious about additional aid to Ukraine, but are largely united in wanting to support Israel in its fight against Hamas, which killed more than 1,400 people in a surprise attack in southern Israel. on October 7.
“We note that 22 members of the United States House of Representatives wrote to the then-leading candidates to be the next Speaker of the House urging them to deny attempts to unite these issues,” the nine Republican senators continued in the letter.
Given Republicans’ doubts about aid to Ukraine, the White House appears confident that the funding merger will increase its likelihood of passing Congress.
Biden has downplayed the difficulty of addressing both conflicts.
“We are the United States of America, for God’s sake, the most powerful nation in history, not the world, the history of the world,” Biden said in a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday.
“We have the ability to do this and we have the obligation to do it. “We are the essential nation,” Biden continued. “And if we don’t do it, who does?”
If the measure passes the Senate, it will face an uncertain future in the House, which currently cannot consider major legislation.
Congress is also grappling with the looming Nov. 17 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn