WASHINGTON — In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has found an unlikely ally in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, as they both call on Congress to pass a funding package amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Last week, Biden requested $106 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to support Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and strengthen U.S. border security.
The conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has resulted in over 5,000 deaths in Gaza and over 1,400 in Israel. The funding package requested by Biden aims to provide security assistance to Israel, support their efforts in securing the release of hostages, and extend humanitarian aid. Additionally, aid will be provided to Ukraine as it fights against Russian attacks.
While some Republican senators oppose providing additional aid to Ukraine and other elements of the funding package, McConnell has expressed his support for the president’s approach, stating, “This is an emergency. It’s an emergency that we step up and deal with this axis of evil − China, Russia, Iran − because it’s an immediate threat to the U.S.”
However, several Republicans have voiced concerns about including aid to Ukraine alongside other measures. They argue that aid to different countries should be individually considered rather than bundled together. Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas, along with other GOP senators, sent a letter to Senate leadership expressing their reservations about leveraging aid to Israel for more Ukraine funding.
Despite the differing opinions within the Republican party, McConnell defended the combination of the aid packages, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine’s efforts in fighting against a major rival. He stated, “The main point I’m trying to make here is you can’t just take out part of this − it’s an overall effort by the Chinese, the Russians, the Iranians to go after the free world.”
The next step is uncertain, but it is anticipated that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will move the funding package to the Senate floor within the next few weeks. However, the House remains at a standstill without a speaker, hindering any progress on legislation. Once a speaker is selected, the funding package may face opposition or modifications, potentially affecting aid to Israel if it remains tied to Ukraine.
Overall, both Biden and McConnell are working to rally support within the Republican party for the funding package, aiming to address the immediate threats posed by the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
