What to know
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will travel to Israel this weekend to discuss what resources the United States can provide for its war against Hamas. The New York Democrat’s office said Friday that he will lead a bipartisan group of senators who will travel to the country “to show America’s unwavering support.” Schumer is the first Jewish majority leader of the Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States.
NEW YORK — Ahead of a trip to Israel this weekend, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says an upcoming administration request for wartime funds could include aid for both Israel and Ukraine.
Schumer, the first Jewish Senate majority leader and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, is leading a bipartisan delegation of senators to Israel this weekend to express support for the country amid its week-long war. against Hamas. He said to The Associated Press in an interview that wants to make clear that the United States supports Israel and also show bipartisan support.
“Having a bipartisan delegation, led by the majority leader, saying firmly and unequivocally that we stand with Israel will make a big difference for Israelis,” Schumer said.
Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah and Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Mark Kelly of Arizona will also be on the trip.
Schumer also plans to discuss with senior officials what kind of support Israel needs for military and humanitarian operations. Those conversations will inform the White House’s request to Congress and what the Senate will do after it returns, Schumer said, and how quickly it will act to try to approve new spending.
While negotiations are ongoing, Schumer said, he expects any package to include aid for Israel and Ukraine, along with possible aid for Taiwan, which faces threats from Beijing, and money for the U.S. border.
“I think the general consensus is that Israel and Ukraine will be part of this,” he said of an eventual request for foreign aid from the White House. “Other possibilities are something for Taiwan and something on the border, but border issues have to be bipartisan.”
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has also indicated that he wants war aid for the two countries to be tied together, along with aid for Taiwan.
Schumer’s trip and early talks about a spending bill come at a time when the politics of an impending foreign aid package are increasingly complicated. There has been growing Republican opposition to additional aid for Ukraine’s long war and defense against Russia, and vocal criticism from some Republicans that the United States should focus more on its own problems. The additional money for the border would be an incentive for some conservatives who have opposed spending more money in Ukraine, although aid to Israel after the brutal Hamas siege over the weekend is expected to have much broader support.
Additionally, House Republicans are embroiled in a complicated fight over who will replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and cannot pass any legislation until that is resolved.
“There are so many crises going on that I hope they can fix themselves,” Schumer said of the House.
Administration officials have been talking to lawmakers about the contours of a supplemental aid package as it continues to determine Israel’s needs. White House aides met with a bipartisan group of House members Friday afternoon and also briefed senators remotely.
Schumer said his trip to Israel is deeply important to him not only because of his position as America’s top Jewish elected official but also because of his own heritage. His great-grandmother and several of his children were murdered by the Nazis in Europe.
“This has deep resonance for people,” Schumer said. “Because we haven’t seen anything as cruel and disgusting as this since the Nazis.”
Schumer is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and senior opposition figure Benny Gantz, who is part of a newly formed wartime cabinet in Israel.
Two other high-ranking officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have visited the country in recent days.
Schumer returned this week from a trip to China, where he pressed officials to condemn Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel. He had just arrived there last weekend, when Hamas carried out a series of surprise attacks on Saturday morning.
More violence is expected in the region. The Israeli army ordered around a million civilians to evacuate northern Gaza “for their own safety and protection”, ahead of a feared Israeli ground offensive. Hamas rulers in Gaza responded by calling on Palestinians to “remain firm in their homes and steadfast” against Israel.
Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Kevin Freking and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
2023-10-14 05:22:58
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