Israeli and American officials recently celebrated a significant milestone as the U.S. Senate moved forward with a comprehensive aid package that would allocate billions of dollars to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. This development follows the overwhelming approval of the package by the House of Representatives.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer expressed strong support for global democratic values on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing America's commitment to supporting its allies against autocratic threats. Schumer highlighted that this gesture is a clear signal to adversaries like Vladimir Putin, reinforcing that underestimating America is a grave error.
Tonight after more than six months of hard work:
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 24, 2024
This Senate delivered the national security supplemental, one of the most consequential measures Congress has passed in years to protect America’s security and the future of Democracy. pic.twitter.com/tegeH2yanp
The bill, supported in a procedural vote with an 80-19 result, is on track for final Senate approval before being signed by President Biden. The package includes significant support for Israel, with $26 billion earmarked for the country, which includes $9 billion for humanitarian efforts, part of which is designated for Gaza. Many Republicans were critical of the earmark for Gaza, arguing that the United States is funding both sides as any money that goes into Gaza will inevitably land in the hands of Hamas as demonstrated with the humanitarian aid. However, considering their support for Israel as paramount, they chose to back the aid and pass the legislation.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant publicly thanked Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, President Biden, and his administration for their unwavering support of Israel, emphasizing the strong message it sends to Iran and other adversaries.
However, the package has faced criticism, notably from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has been a vocal critic of the Israeli government. Sanders proposed amendments to restrict military aid and ensure funding for humanitarian organizations in Gaza, but these were not included in the final bill. Sanders expressed disappointment, arguing that the U.S. should not fund what he views as aggressive actions by the Netanyahu government against Palestinians.
Three liberal Senators, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, and Bernie Sanders, opposed the bill, saying they could not endorse sending offensive weapons to Israel when the campaign in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people and created a hunger crisis there. https://t.co/HJU8tNBy63
— Shibley Telhami (@ShibleyTelhami) April 24, 2024
This aid package also addresses global security concerns, allocating $60.8 billion to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, and $8.1 billion to enhance the defenses of the Indo-Pacific region against China. Following Senate approval, the U.S. has reaffirmed its position on Taiwan, advising against any moves towards independence, a stance that aligns with previous commitments to China.
Israel's foreign minister, Israel Katz, praised the funding as a robust deterrent against threats to national security. Meanwhile, in discussions with the U.S., Taiwan's military is strategizing on the optimal utilization of the funds allocated to them.
This legislation reflects a broad spectrum of U.S. foreign policy objectives, including efforts to block TikTok unless its ownership changes, and initiatives to recoup some economic aid to Ukraine through "forgivable loans," a strategy previously suggested by Donald Trump.
How can the US Senate even consider this $100 BILLION DOLLAR foreign aid bill in the first place?
— Steve 🇺🇸 (@SteveLovesAmmo) April 24, 2024
Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Gaza are not our 51st state.
Trump asked for $5B to fix our southern border, but that was too much.
Idiots think that Trump is the problem but that…
The Senate's advancement of this aid package marks a continuation of support that began after a significant cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7th, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to its strategic allies, notably Israel and Ukraine.
