US House of Representatives to vote on aid to Israel without funds for Ukraine next week

Bloomberg reported the information.

According to Johnson, this step is necessary for the swift provision of aid to Israel in its struggle against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and there is no time to consider a package that combines assistance to both Ukraine and Israel with provisions regarding the security of the US-Mexico border.

The Israel bill unveiled on Saturday is the latest sign that House Republicans are willing to postpone a decision on aid to Ukraine indefinitely due to disputes over US immigration policy.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre called it a "cynical political maneuver" that shows that aid to Israel is much more popular with the Republican Party in the House of Representatives than aid to Ukraine. “Just as legislative text is imminent, the House Republicans come up with their latest cynical political maneuver,” she said in a statement. “The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game.”

The bill includes funds for Israel’s Iron Dome and Iron Beam missile defense systems, funds for US military operations in the Middle East and enhanced protection for US personnel at embassies.

“Given the Senate’s failure to move appropriate legislation in a timely fashion, and the perilous circumstances currently facing Israel, the House will continue to lead,” Johnson said in a letter to colleagues.

According to him,“The Senate will no longer have excuses, however misguided, against swift passage of this critical support for our ally.”

The House proposal would allocate $3.3 billion to fund the US response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and $200 million to protect US personnel and evacuate US citizens.

• On January 31, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US House Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of congressional leadership to discuss support for Ukraine.