On video: Biden in a message to Israel: Humanitarian aid to Gaza cannot be a bargaining chip/photo: Reuters
The American House of Representatives today approved the aid package for Israel. It will now go to the Senate for approval. At the same time, the aid package for Ukraine was also approved. The package was approved by a large majority, with bipartisan support. In total, aid in the amount of 95 billion dollars was approved for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza. Of the package, about 61 billion is intended for Ukraine, eight billion for Taiwan and the countries of the Pacific Ocean and 9.5 billion for humanitarian aid to Gaza and refugees around the world. The aid package will now be approved by the Senate, which has a Democratic majority. The Senate is expected to vote in favor of the package next week, and forward it to President Biden for his signature.
President Biden issued a statement after the vote that said: "Members of both parties of the House voted to advance our national security interests, sending a clear message about the strength of American leadership on the world stage." He called on the Senate to put the proposal on its agenda urgently: "Israel needs this."
Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed the approval of the aid package in the US House of Representatives. He wrote: "Thank you House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson for your leadership in leading the efforts to pass the aid package to Israel in the House of Representatives today, and thank you to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for supporting him. The vote on the aid package for Israel with overwhelming bipartisan support proves the strong ties and strategic partnership between Israel and the US and sends a strong message to our enemies. I hope the proposal will pass the Senate soon with strong bipartisan support."