Democratic senators blast Republican attempt to force an immediate vote on the House of Representatives’ approval of $14 billion in aid to Israel, including billions for the Iron Dome replenishment that saved the country from a disaster. attack by Iranian missiles
Democratic senators on Monday evening killed the chances of a stand-alone Israeli bill in the Senate being passed quickly.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., requested unanimous consent to quickly pass a $14 billion House-passed relief package — offset by cuts to the IRS — and another 17 measure billion dollars (which failed in 2011). the House) for the controversial American ally, but Democrats objected.
The bills include about $4 billion to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, which intercepts “99%” of Iranian drone attacks over the weekend.
It comes as the White House has made clear that President Joe Biden does not support an Israel-only aid package, but Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will seat Ukraine and Israel separately in the House of Representatives.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., asked for unanimous consent to quickly pass a $17.6 billion aid package for the embattled U.S. ally, but Democrats object
Johnson decided on Monday to introduce three separate bills this week to send billions to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, DailyMail.com confirmed.
A fourth bill will reportedly include several measures, such as requiring TikTok to be divested from its Chinese-owned parent company, an effort to obtain seized Russian assets, a military aid loan program to Ukraine, as well as loans for humanitarian aid.
All four bills would be merged under the same “rule” to send them to the House of Representatives this week for final approval before heading to the Senate.
Iranian missiles launched at Israel, as seen on Iranian TV
An anti-missile system goes into action after Iran launches drones and missiles towards Israel, seen from Ashkelon, Israel on April 14, 2024
Johnson placed the Israel-only aid package on the House agenda in February, but failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass the proposal under suspension.
“We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together as we speak,” he said. ‘We are looking at the possibilities and all those additional things.’
The House of Representatives approved a $14 billion aid package for Israel in October, but the deal was offset by cuts in IRS funding that led to the country’s demise in the Democratic-led Senate.
Conservative hardliners have warned Johnson against linking any Ukrainian funding to an Israeli aid bill. Johnson has remained coy about how he plans to proceed, but convened an emergency conference of his Republicans on Monday evening.
“Under no circumstances will the House Freedom Caucus commit to using the emergency in Israel as a false justification to ram through aid to Ukraine without compensation and without security for our own wide-open borders,” said conservative hardliner Freedom Caucus in a statement. Monday.
Israel considers Iran’s 350-missile attack a “declaration of war” even though it says 99 percent of the rockets have been intercepted.
The attack was in response to Israel’s drone strike in Syria, which killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.