US House Passes $95 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

US House Passes $95 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine: The U.S. House of Representatives will give Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan $95 billion in security assistance.

As soon as next week, the long-awaited bill could be signed into law after passing through the Senate.

37 Democrats and 21 Republicans opposed the aid package for Israel, which passed 366-58.

According to Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, Democrats who voted against Israel’s bill were vocal in their criticism.

“The number might not sound like a lot … but this is really remarkable. It would be unimaginable a decade or two ago,” she said. “I believe it shows a great shift in the Democratic Party.”

US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel aid package, sends to Senate https://t.co/c4Hse8Iey8 pic.twitter.com/mjwglQBlE3

— CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) April 20, 2024

Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been an outspoken critic of the US’s role in Gaza, voted against the bill.

“I do not support unconditional military aid that further escalates the already horrific humanitarian situation,” she said in a statement on X.

Despite months of hard-right opposition to renewed US support for repelling Russia’s invasion, Culhane reported that the vote on Ukraine went 311-112, with only 101 Republicans voting yes.

BREAKING: US Senate passes $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after a rare all-night session as divisions over foreign policy grow in the GOP. https://t.co/tilo98JTrR

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 13, 2024

The package passed despite 112 Republicans voting ‘no’, so if Ukraine needs more funding, it raises the question of what might happen next.

On Saturday, Marjorie Taylor Greene threatened to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from office over Ukraine, but stopped short of doing so.

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What is the amount of aid that will be sent to Israel?

Israel receives about $26.38 billion in foreign aid, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian assistance.

In particular, the allocation will include:

• The Israeli missile and rocket defence system will be restocked and expanded with $5.2 billion;
• Spending $3.5 billion on advanced weapons systems and $1 billion on improving weapons production;
• Israel will receive $4.4 billion in other supplies and services;
• Humanitarian aid of $9.2 billion, including for Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

This follows Israeli unsubstantiated accusations that UNRWA’s staff were involved in Hamas’ October 7 attacks, despite allocating funds for humanitarian assistance.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US assistance “demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and demonstrates a commitment to Western civilization”.

According to Palestinian officials, the bill is an “aggression against the Palestinian people” and a “dangerous escalation”.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, says the money would lead to thousands of Palestinian deaths.

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What is the amount that will go to Ukraine?

A $60.84bn bill is provided to address the conflict in Ukraine, specifically:

• The US will spend $23 billion to replenish weapons, stocks, and facilities;
• $14.4 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a US Department of State-led program that provides equipment and advice to Ukraine’s military;
• A total of over $11 billion will be used to fund current US military operations in the region, improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian military, and boost intelligence collaboration between Kyiv and Washington.

Assistance in the form of non-military aid, including salary payments to Ukraine’s government.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to US lawmakers for keeping “history on track”.

“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,” Zelenskyy said on X.

On Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that US approval of security aid to Ukraine would cause more damage and deaths.

Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that the decision would make the United States of America richer, ruin Ukraine further and result in even more deaths.

In addition, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the new US aid package would deepen the global crisis.

Zakharova said on Telegram that military assistance to the Ukrainian regime directly sponsors terrorist activities.

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What percentage of the funds will go to Asia Pacific?

Taiwan will receive $8.12 billion from the bill.

US weapon deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, have previously been highlighted by Taiwanese authorities.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense thanked the US House for its “rock solid” support.

Moreover, the ministry said it will “coordinate budget uses with the United States through existing exchange mechanisms, and work hard to strengthen combat readiness capabilities in order to ensure national security, peace, and stability in the Taiwan Strait”.

In addition, the package includes proposals for the US to impose sanctions on Iran, Russia, and China, and seize frozen Russian central bank assets in order to rebuild Ukraine. A US ban will also be imposed on the Chinese owner of TikTok after it sells its stake within a year.

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