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Capitol in Washington
Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP
In the United States, the US House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a Republican bill with aid money for Israel. The planned aid included payments totaling $17.6 billion. The proposal was defeated by a vote of 250 to 180 because the aid was directed exclusively to Israel and excluded funds for Ukraine, among others, according to many opponents of the measure.
“This goes nowhere and delays aid to our allies and the delivery of humanitarian assistance,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Many Democrats described the move as a political ploy by Republicans. The bill introduced is intended to distract from the $118 billion aid package that the Democratic-led Senate introduced on Sunday. This includes new funding for US border security as well as billions in emergency aid for Ukraine, Israel and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
The US government had already announced on Monday that it would veto the bill. "The administration strongly opposes this proposal, which does nothing to secure the border, does not help the Ukrainian people defend themselves against Putin's aggression, does not support the security of American synagogues, mosques and vulnerable places of worship, and does not support Palestinian civilians, most of whom are women and children are denied humanitarian assistance," the White House Office of Management and Budget said, calling on members of Congress to vote for the Senate bill instead.
asc/Reuters