President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged lawmakers to pass a stalled bill that would provide billions of dollars in military aid and other aid to Israel, citing Iran's weekend attacks on U.S. allies. did.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Biden wrote:[If] If Iran succeeds in significantly escalating its attacks on Israel, the United States could be drawn in. ”
“Israel is our strongest partner in the Middle East. It is inconceivable that we would stand by if our defenses weaken and Iran is able to carry out the destruction it intends this weekend,” the US president wrote.
“We can reduce the likelihood of such an outcome by replenishing Israel’s air defenses now and providing military assistance. That way, Israel’s air defenses are well stocked and ready. can be maintained.”
Biden's appeal comes after Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones on Sunday in retaliation for Israel's fatal bombing of the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus earlier this month. It was done a day later.
Despite calls from the Biden administration and other Western countries to avoid escalation, senior Israeli officials said they intend to hit back at Iran following Sunday's attack.
Despite rising tensions in the region, the international community has stepped up its appeals to the United States and other Western countries to condition financial aid to Israel on increasing humanitarian flows to the Gaza Strip. ing. More than 33,800 Palestinians have died since Israel began a siege and blockade of the coast in early October, with UN officials warning the coast is on the brink of starvation.
additional funds request
While public criticism of the Biden administration's aid to Israel has grown, the country, which receives $3.8 billion in aid from the United States each year, continues to enjoy strong bipartisan support among Washington lawmakers.
Still, a $95 billion bill that would provide $14 billion in additional aid to Israel and billions more to other U.S. allies such as Ukraine and Taiwan is stalled in Congress.
The U.S. Senate passed the bill, known as the Supplemental Funding Act, in February. But U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, bowing to pressure from his own conservative Republican lawmakers, blocked the bill in the House.
One faction of the Republican Party says the bill doesn't do enough to address the immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border, while other Republicans argue that Ukraine's response to Russia's invasion, which began more than two years ago and shows no signs of ending, is has expressed concern about US funding for the fight. .
In order for a bill to become law in the United States, it must be approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the president.
Since Sunday's attack on Iran, Johnson has faced increasing pressure on Capitol Hill to bring the additional funding bill to a vote.
“Time is of the essence and we must ensure that critical aid reaches Israel and its other democratic allies as they face threats from adversaries around the world,” dozens of U.S. lawmakers said this week. He first stated this in a letter to Mr. Johnson.
As pressure mounts, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a letter to MPs on Wednesday that he would introduce the text of three bills providing aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Asia-Pacific region “as soon as today.”
He said a fourth bill containing “other measures to counter Russia, China and Iran” would be introduced the same day.
“We anticipate a vote on final passage of these bills on Saturday night,” Johnson added.
It remains unclear whether the bill will garner enough support to pass.
Many Democrats have previously refused to break up the foreign aid bill by country, fearing that Republicans passing the Israel portion would stall aid to Ukraine.
But after the Iran attack, it is unclear whether Democrats, who control the Senate, will agree to an aid bill that targets only Israel.
“Pivotal moment”
President Biden wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that both Israel and Ukraine can protect themselves, but “they depend on American aid, including weapons, to do so.” And this is a pivotal moment. ”
Biden added that the additional funding bill “should no longer be held hostage by a small number of extreme Republican House members.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also emphasized the importance of passing the foreign aid bill.
“The most important thing we can do right now is pass additional legislation,” Austin told U.S. lawmakers during a briefing at the Capitol on Wednesday morning.
Doing so, he said, “will give us the opportunity to continue to provide security assistance to Israel in the form of air defense interceptors, munitions, and things that are essential for Israel to protect itself.”