The US House of Representatives Passes Bill Providing Security Assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

Overview

After months of delay due to disagreements within the Republican Party, the United States House of Representatives has passed a legislative package allocating $95 billion to provide security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill has seen broad bipartisan support and is expected to be signed into law after passing through the Senate and landing on President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

Allocation of Funds

The bill provides $60.84 billion to aid Ukraine in addressing its ongoing conflict with Russia. Specifically, the allocation includes:

Funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is prohibited.
$1 billion in military aid to support Ukrainian defense capabilities, including lethal weapons.
The ability to impose sanctions on Russia, Iran, and China.
The ability to seize Russian central bank assets to fund rebuilding efforts in Ukraine.

Taiwan will also receive support, with the bill including proposals to help strengthen combat readiness capabilities and ensure national security and peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Reaction to the Bill

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the bill, stating that it “demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization.”

In contrast, the Palestinian presidency condemned the bill as “an aggression against the Palestinian people” and a “dangerous escalation,” stating that the funding would lead to “thousands of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip” and occupied West Bank.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude, stating that the “vital U.S. aid bill passed today by the House will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger.”

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the bill, stating that it would “deepen the crisis throughout the world” and calling military assistance to Ukraine a “direct sponsorship of terrorist activities.”

Political Divide

There were deep splits within the Republican Party on the issue of Ukraine, with only 101 Republicans in support of the bill. Some Republicans believed that Ukraine should receive more support from the European Union, while others argued that the money should be spent domestically. Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, also voted against the bill on the basis that it further escalates an already horrific humanitarian situation.

Conclusion

Despite the political divides, the bill to provide security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan has passed the United States House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. The allocation of funds for UNRWA being prohibited may cause concern for some, but the bill is seen to provide much-needed support for these three countries and their ongoing security concerns.

Originally Post From https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/21/us-house-passes-almost-100-billion-in-aid-for-ukraine-israel-what

US House Passes $95bn in Aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan What Next – Al Jazeera