The US House of Representatives plans to vote next week in favour of $17.6bn in military aid to Israel, without including aid to Ukraine.
The Republican-led House of Representatives earlier approved $14.3 billion in new military aid to Israel, but with the condition that it be paid for by returning some of the money already earmarked for the US Internal Revenue Service.
The Democrat-controlled Senate rejected that provision and is expected to introduce a legislative package that would provide aid to Israel as well as more military assistance to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Republicans, in turn, insist that any new aid to Ukraine must be accompanied by increased US border controls at a time when record numbers of immigrants are trying to enter the US.
Speaker Mike Johnson said in a letter to committee members that the funding bill could be voted on by the full House of Representatives next week.
Johnson announced to his Republican colleagues that the vote would take place; but at the same time criticised a parallel US Senate initiative to combine funding for Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip with aid to Ukraine. He confirmed that the Senate package would not pass the House because it was not tough enough on people trying to cross the southern US border with Mexico.
The need to support our closest ally and our own forces in the region has never been more pressing, Johnson said in his letter to colleagues.
On the other hand, it remains completely unclear and elusive whether the Senate will advance a bill providing military aid only to Israel to continue the war against Hamas, which has already caused a humanitarian crisis among the Palestinian population.
The $17.6 billion includes funds to replenish Israel’s missile defence systems, buy additional advanced weapons systems, and produce artillery and other munitions. Some of the funds will also be used to replenish US weapons supplied to Israel after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October.
