Some Republicans have criticized President Joe Biden for using Israel as a bargaining chip to secure additional aid for Ukraine. The White House clarified its stance on Nov. 2, stating that President Biden would veto any bill that provides funding exclusively for Israel. National Security spokesperson John Kirby confirmed this during a press briefing and defended the president’s decision, citing Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and border security as crucial national security priorities.
Furthermore, the White House had previously requested a $105 billion security package from Congress, which included $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. The package also allocated funds for the U.S. southern border and Taiwan. Mr. Kirby emphasized that President Biden wants all of these priorities to be honored by Congress, as they are deemed important.
However, some Republicans have taken issue with President Biden using Israel as a negotiation tool to secure more funding for Ukraine. The House bill focused solely on providing security assistance for Israel and did not include any humanitarian aid for Gaza. Mr. Kirby dismissed these criticisms as partisan politics.
The House voted on Nov. 2 to advance a bill offering $14.3 billion in supplemental funding for Israel to aid its conflict with Hamas. Democrats unanimously voted against the bill, as it proposed offsetting the funding with cuts to IRS funding, which the Democrats opposed.
The bill included funding for various purposes, such as defense maintenance, ammunition procurement, and missile defense systems. However, it is expected to face opposition in the Senate.
The White House responded to the Republican proposal of cutting IRS funding to offset aid to Israel by expressing concerns about the bill. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) argued that the bill deepens divisions, erodes bipartisan support for Israel, and neglects humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. OMB warned that this precedent of conditioning assistance for Israel sets a dangerous precedent and called the offset a “poison pill.”
Republicans defended the IRS offset in the bill, commending the move as a way to fully support Israel. Democrats have called for pairing assistance to Israel with aid to Ukraine, while Republicans believe they should be dealt with separately. However, Senate leaders from both parties have called for simultaneous passage of assistance to Ukraine and Israel.
Republicans have expressed concerns about corruption in Ukraine and the lack of a clear mission, as well as the disproportionate burden of NATO defense spending falling on the United States. The United States has a long history of providing assistance to Israel, both economically and militarily. Congress currently provides $3.8 billion annually to Israel, with the majority allocated to defense assistance.
In conclusion, the debate revolves around the allocation of funds for Israel and Ukraine, with Republicans criticizing President Biden’s approach and Democrats advocating for combined assistance. The bill’s fate remains uncertain as it progresses through the Senate, with opposition expected.