US House passes crucial aid bill for Ukraine and Israel
AFP | New Delhi
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives yesterday quickly passed legislation to provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, bolster Taiwan while also threatening a ban on TikTok if it fails to divest from Beijing.
The $61 billion package for Ukraine includes economic assistance and weapons. A total of $13 billion in military assistance has been allocated for America’s historic ally Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
The money will essentially be used to reinforce Israel’s Iron Dome air defenses.
The bills, passed in a rare Saturday session, were approved by overwhelming bipartisan votes, though they leave the future of House speaker Mike Johnson in doubt as he seeks to fend off angry far-right detractors.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the long-delayed aid package, saying the military and economic assistance would “save thousands and thousands of lives.” Not surprisingly, Russia took the opposite view.
The bills are the product of months of acrimonious negotiations, pressure from US allies and repeated pleas for assistance from Zelensky.
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