The Biden Administration has stated that President Joe Biden will utilize his veto power against a bill supported by Republicans in the US House of Representatives, aimed at providing aid to Israel. This move comes as the administration pushes for the enactment of more comprehensive legislation to support Israel and Ukraine, allocating new funds for border security.
In a statement issued by the Office of Management and Budget on Monday, the administration urged Congress to strongly reject this political maneuver and instead pass the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk. The administration vehemently opposes this tactic, which does nothing to secure borders, assist the Ukrainian people in defending themselves against Putin’s aggression, support the security of Jewish temples, mosques, and vulnerable American places of worship, and denies humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, primarily women and children.
The so-called “Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations” legislation includes a total funding of $118.3 billion, with $60 billion designated for Ukraine, in alignment with the White House’s request, as well as $14.1 billion in “security assistance” for Israel. This legislation also combines efforts to reform US immigration policy and provide new funding for border security, as well as emergency aid amounting to billions of dollars for Ukraine, Israel, and Washington’s partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
In response to Biden’s veto threat against the bill, House Speaker, Mike Johnson, in a statement issued yesterday evening, declared that “the President’s threat to use the veto authority is an act of betrayal”. Johnson, a Republican, further added that “by threatening to veto aid to Israel and our military forces, President Biden is abandoning our ally at a time when it is most needed”.
Previously, Mike Johnson announced last Saturday that he would reject the Senate bill and instead vote this week on a bill solely providing assistance to Israel. It is worth noting that the approval of the bill from the House of Representatives, which is predominantly Republican, occurred in November last year, but it was never introduced in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Negotiators have been working on Biden’s request for Congress to approve a larger emergency security package.
The bill has not gained full support from the Republicans, with Donald Trump and his allies strongly opposing it, describing it as “not tough enough”. Trump made border security with Mexico a key point of discussion in his campaign against Biden before the upcoming November presidential elections.
