US President Joe Biden has requested Congress to approve an emergency military aid package of over $100 billion to continue supporting Ukraine and Israel militarily.
In a speech, he drew parallels between Russia and Hamas, emphasizing the significance of both conflicts to US national security.
Biden recently returned from a swift visit to Israel, where he expressed his support for the nation following a violent attack by Hamas. Back in the US, he faces a Congress where the House of Representatives is without a Speaker, making decision-making challenging, as noted by acting Speaker Patrick McHenry.
From the Oval Office, Biden appealed to Congress to approve the emergency military aid of an additional $100 billion for both Ukraine and Israel. He plans to submit this proposal to Congress on Friday.
– When terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. The threats to America and the world keep rising, the president asserted.
We cannot—and will not—let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win.
I refuse to let that happen. pic.twitter.com/o2hGvfSNwu
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 20, 2023
Strong Support for Israel
During his speech, the president drew comparisons between Russian President Putin and Hamas, emphasizing why these conflicts, despite occurring far from US borders, are crucial for the country’s national security.
– Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it… It’s a smart investment that’s gonna pay dividends for American security for generations, he continued.
While support for Israel remains robust within the US Congress, backing for Ukraine has started to waver, especially within the Republican Party. Many of the members who contributed to Kevin McCarthy’s forced resignation as Speaker, leaving the House without leadership, also oppose continued financial support for Ukraine.
Of the over $100 billion Biden is requesting, approximately $60 billion is intended for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and the remainder for humanitarian efforts and projects to bolster national security.
