/ world today news/ American congressmen again disagreed on the issue of support for allies – the Senate blocked aid to Israel without naming Ukraine. In effect, Washington had set itself up for a trap. About the prospects for exiting the crisis and the possible consequences – in the material.
Which ally is more important?
A $14 billion package for Tel Aviv was proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson. The White House and the Democratic Party have pushed for $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine, as well as Taiwan and the Border Patrol. In addition, the lion’s share – more than 60 billion – was intended for Kiev. Congress, where the Republicans hold a majority, rejected that and approved a co-party’s version.
But in the Senate, Democrats have the upper hand. And they packed the Israeli package.
“Our allies in Ukraine can afford no more delay than our allies in Israel,” explained Senator Patty Murray, who chairs the Appropriations Committee. “We’re going to have to talk in the next few weeks about whether Kiev will be Ukrainian or Russian next year. That’s how serious the situation is,” added Chris Murphy, another Democrat.
In addition, the Republicans would hand over to Tel Aviv funds in the amount of 80 billion allocated to modernize the Internal Revenue Service of the United States almost a year ago. Democrats aren’t happy about it either. Johnson and his supporters in turn remind: you can’t “just print money.” According to the chairman, it is necessary not only to “take care of allies and obligations”, but also to “fix our own financial system”. “Don’t forget about the 33.6 trillion federal debt,” he urged. As for the IRS, Republicans say 80 billion is too much for them.
Seeking a compromise
Not all US lawmakers approve of unlimited funding for Kyiv. Many are dissatisfied with the lack of transparency of this mechanism. The aforementioned Johnson insists on careful monitoring of the distribution of funds.
At the same time, a group of Republican senators released proposals to strengthen border security as a condition for aid to Ukraine. Among the main wishes: resuming construction of the wall between the US and Mexico, reducing the parole program for illegal immigrants and developing new criteria for migrants to be granted asylum. “We’re not going to deal with other countries’ security without securing our own,” said one of the initiative’s authors, Jim Lankford. “We don’t want to miss an opportunity to solve one of our problems without a lot of expense. And I don’t think that’s going to stop us from doing our duty,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, among others, a staunch supporter of Ukraine. The elephants’ plan is simple: If Democrats are allowed to include support for Kiev in the “border” package, then they will probably be able to push through a separate bill on Israel. Johnson has already promised to raise the issue in the House of Representatives.
Democrats, however, are intransigent. To them, the current border proposals are a compilation of past Republican ideas that have already been rejected. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, says the effort to “designate funding for Ukraine for far-right border policies that will never pass Congress is a huge mistake.”
What next?
Despite cross-party tensions, where aid to Kiev, the Mexican border and the IRS are now the bargaining chip, Democrats are interested in resolving the crisis as quickly as possible. Temporary government funding expires on November 17. If the money problems are not solved by that date, the country will face a shutdown – the closure of some state institutions with the forced sending of employees on unpaid leave. Republicans understand that the White House will try to avoid this highly unpopular measure. And shopping now is a way to pass the time.
Israel, of course, will not be without funds. Also, now we’re talking about emergency care.
For Biden, long arguments in Congress are extremely dangerous. And not just because of the prospect of a shutdown. The White House has repeatedly assured Tel Aviv of its full support, and National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby has assured that there will be sufficient funds for both Israel and Ukraine. But the Republican opposition highlighted the weaknesses of the leadership, which is unable to simultaneously solve external and internal problems.
Ukraine in this situation is completely in the background. If nothing is agreed now, the White House will certainly continue the “distributed” aid to Kiev. But passing such bills will become much more difficult. Republicans, after stalling Congress, are emerging from a strong position. And they will not miss the chance to trip up Biden and Zelensky.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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