BIDEN OFFICIALS REQUEST AID FOR ISRAEL AND UKRAINE ON THE US HEARING ON ANTI-WAR PROTEST
In Washington during a congressional hearing on Tuesday that was frequently interrupted by protesters accusing American officials of supporting “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, two of President Joe Biden’s top advisers lobbied lawmakers to give Israel billions more money.
Biden’s request for $106 billion to fulfil ambitious plans for Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. border security was discussed in testimony given to the Senate Appropriations Committee by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.
Making the case that aiding American allies is essential to maintaining national security, Biden asked for $61.4 billion for Ukraine, with almost half of that amount going towards restocking US weaponry that had been depleted by earlier assistance to Kyiv.
In addition, Biden requested $13.6 billion for border security in the United States, $9 billion for humanitarian aid, especially for Israel and Gaza, $14.3 billion for Israel, $4 billion in military support, and government funding to oppose China’s regional initiatives in Asia.
An anti-war demonstration saw a queue of demonstrators raise their red-stained hands in the air as the hearing got underway. They were eventually taken out of the hearing chamber by capitol police after they yelled slogans such as “Ceasefire now!” and “Protect the children of Gaza!”
Blinken emphasised the significance of both security assistance for Israel and humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, calling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “a strategic debacle” because to U.S. backing for the Ukrainian nation.
“Without swift and sustained humanitarian relief, the conflict is much more likely to spread, suffering will grow, and Hamas and its sponsors will benefit by fashioning themselves as the saviours of the very desperation they created,” Blinken stated.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Congress has already granted $113 billion for the country; but, Biden’s proposal for an additional $24 billion in funding in August was never fulfilled. According to the White House, there is not enough money to keep sending weaponry from American stockpiles to Ukrainian forces battling Russia. Republicans were split.
Biden’s most recent budget blueprint appears to have no clear direction going forward. Democrats and many Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives firmly endorse Biden’s approach of uniting aid to Ukraine with backing for Israel.
The chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Patty Murray, stated, “We need to address all of these priorities as part of one package because the reality is these issues are all connected and they are all urgent.”
The top Republican on the committee, Senator Susan Collins, stated that she would evaluate the spending request based on whether or not it increases American security.
Together with a lesser number of party members in the Senate, Republicans in control of the House of Representatives, however, are opposed to merging the two problems. Opinion surveys reveal popular support for
The amount of aid going to Ukraine is decreasing, and many Republicans—especially those closest to former President Donald Trump—have voiced opposition to it.
They wonder whether Washington should be supporting Ukraine’s battle with Russia instead of Israel or bolstering attempts to retaliate against a rising China, given that government expenditure is driven by $31.4 trillion in debt.
Mike Johnson, the recently elected Speaker of the House, has previously voted against aiding Kiev. He set up a confrontation with Senate Democrats on Monday by introducing a bill to give $14.3 billion in aid to Israel by slashing budget for the Internal Revenue Service. Following a three-week impasse in the House, during which former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed in part for his collaboration with Democrats on a government funding package, Johnson was elected speaker.
Israel already receives $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid; Biden’s backing for Israel has come under fire in the face of global calls for the protection of Gaza’s civilian population.
According to Palestinian authorities, since Israel’s “total siege” of Gaza, over 8,300 people have died there—more than 3,400 of them were children—and there is an urgent need for food, fuel, and clean water. Israel began a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip this week in retaliation for Islamist Hamas militants who went on a killing spree on October 7 that claimed 1,400 lives and left at least 240 hostages.