The White House has criticized a GOP-led initiative proposing $17.6 billion in defense support for Israel and the replenishment of American military reserves, accusing it of being a politically motivated tactic due to its exclusion of additional aid for Ukraine.
The plan, put forward by California Representative Ken Calvert, emerges as the Senate prepares to review critical legislation aimed at extending financial support to Ukraine, enhancing aid to Israel, and tightening security at the US-Mexico border.
This move has encountered resistance from House Republicans, influenced by ex-President Donald Trump, offering a strategy to endorse Israel while simultaneously retracting support for Ukraine and obstructing President Joe Biden’s efforts to enforce immigration policies.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of Israel’s security and condemned the strategy as detrimental to border security, Ukrainian defense against Russian hostility, and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, which includes support for women and children and was facilitated by Israel’s initiative to open access routes.
“The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game,” she affirmed.
“We strongly oppose this ploy which does nothing to secure the border, does nothing to help the people of Ukraine defend themselves against Putin’s aggression, and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, the majority of them women and children, which the Israelis supported by opening the access route.”
The Senate, under Democratic leadership, is anticipated to reject the House’s proposal.
Previously, the House had passed a nearly $14.5 billion military aid bill for Israel in November, which was not considered by the Senate.
This bill stipulated that the funding should be sourced from cuts in other budgets, including that of the IRS.
