The United States House of Representatives faced a significant political standoff as it rejected a Republican-led bill to provide $17.6 billion in assistance to Israel. The bill, which required a two-thirds majority to advance, witnessed a largely partisan vote on Tuesday. Traditionally, aid for Israel, one of the largest recipients of US foreign aid, enjoys bipartisan support. However, critics argued that the bill was a Republican strategy to divert attention from their opposition to the broader bipartisan bill, encompassing assistance for Ukraine and increased funding for border security.
The bipartisan bill, totaling $118 billion, combines an overhaul of US immigration policy with new funding for border security and emergency aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Asia Pacific partners. House Democratic leaders denounced the Israel-focused bill as a “nakedly obvious and cynical attempt” to undermine the larger bipartisan package, negotiated over months by a bipartisan group of senators.
The opponents accused Republicans of attempting to distract from their reluctance to support the comprehensive Senate bill. The latter faces resistance among Republicans, with former President Donald Trump exerting pressure to avoid handing President Joe Biden a legislative victory ahead of the upcoming election.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, declared the Senate bill “dead on arrival” even before its introduction. Senate Republican leaders also expressed doubts about the measure’s chances of passing, further complicating the legislative landscape.
President Biden, a supporter of the comprehensive Senate bill, vowed to veto the House’s Israel-only measure if it were to pass. Urging lawmakers to back the wider bill, he stressed the urgency of supporting Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. The President called on legislators to “show some spine” and resist Trump’s influence.
With the Pentagon running out of funds, it has ceased arms shipments to Kyiv, exacerbating Ukraine’s ammunition and personnel shortages. President Biden warned that every passing week without new aid to Ukraine translates to diminished resources for self-defense against Russian aggression.
The immigration segment of the legislation, a key demand by Republicans, includes what Biden described as the “toughest set of reforms to secure the border ever.” He urged lawmakers not to play into Putin’s hands by opposing the bill.
The rejected Israel-only bill was not without its supporters, who argued that swift action was crucial to providing necessary resources to a key ally. Republican Ken Calvert, the bill’s introducer, emphasized that the legislation aimed to support both Israel and the US military.
However, critics, including some Democrats, deplored the bill for its failure to address the humanitarian needs of Palestinian civilians. The political maneuvering and disagreements over foreign aid have left Congress struggling to reach an agreement on security assistance.
President Biden’s previous requests for emergency spending bills, including in October, have faced challenges in Congress. The rejection of the Israel-focused bill follows another setback for Republicans on Tuesday, as the House voted against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a top border official in the Biden administration. The political tensions surrounding these votes underscore the complexities of bipartisan cooperation on critical issues facing the nation.
