Application for a new aid package
Biden: “American leadership holds the world together”
October 20, 2023, 4:53 a.m
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US President Biden wants to help Israel and Ukraine with a package that is probably worth up to 100 billion dollars. In his address to the nation, he said if terrorists did not pay a price for their actions, they would cause more chaos. Because of the quarrels among the Republicans, it is questionable whether the request will be successful.
US President Joe Biden wants to apply to the US Congress for a comprehensive aid package for Ukraine and Israel, among others. At the same time, US support for its two major allies has been described as crucial. “American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances keep us, America, safe,” Biden said in a rare address to the nation from the Oval Office. The US could not and would not allow terrorists like Hamas or tyrants like Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to win. The radical Islamic Hamas and Putin have one thing in common: “They both want to completely destroy a neighboring democracy,” he continued. They want to “ensure that other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading.”
Biden emphasized that it is of utmost importance for the USA to support its two allies Israel and Ukraine – also for its own national security interests. “I know that these conflicts can seem far away,” Biden said. But America’s adversaries would watch the conflicts unfold and, depending on the outcome, could stir up trouble elsewhere in the world.
Military aid to the two countries is a “smart investment” that would provide a “dividend” for U.S. security “for generations.” History has taught that terrorists who paid no price for their terror and dictators who paid no price for their aggression caused more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going and the price and threats to America and the world continue to rise,” he said.
The US president also said that Israel was not responsible for the explosion near a hospital in Gaza, as Hamas officials had claimed, but added: “We cannot ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only live in peace want to live and have a chance.” Amid growing global protests against attacks on the Gaza Strip, Biden urged Israelis not to let “blind anger” guide their response to Hamas.
One day after his visit to Israel, Bien urgently appealed to Congress to approve new military aid. “I know we have divisions here at home,” the president said. “Small-minded” and “angry” party politics should not “stand in the way of our responsibility as a great nation.” He was alluding to the Republicans’ internal party dispute that is paralyzing the House of Representatives.
Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and border guards
Biden is expected to ask Congress for $100 billion (around €95 billion) in aid for Israel, Ukraine, other allies such as Taiwan, but also for securing the US border. According to an insider, this includes $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. Half of the $60 billion that Biden wants to request for Ukraine should be used to renew and modernize the US weapons stockpile, the insider continued.
However, the House of Representatives is currently paralyzed in the face of a power struggle by the opposition Republicans. This means that no new aid can pass Congress – at least for the time being. However, it is also unclear whether such a package would have a chance once Parliament is fully operational again.
The National Security Council’s communications director, John Kirby, made it clear on Biden’s flight to Israel: The US government has the means to help Ukraine and Israel “for a while longer.” “But with both conflicts showing no signs of ending any time soon, we desperately need additional funding and support from Congress.”
The USA sees itself as Israel’s protective power. Every year they support the country with billions, a significant portion of which goes to defense against missiles and military technology. The USA helped develop the “Iron Dome” missile defense system, which has been in use since 2011.
Washington is also considered Ukraine’s most important ally in the fight against Russian invasion. Since the start of the war, the United States has provided Ukraine with military equipment worth around $44 billion (41.6 billion euros), according to the US Department of Defense.