Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Joe Biden would veto a bill backed by House Republicans that would give aid to Israel, the White House said Monday, as his administration instead supports a broader package that would also provide more help to Ukraine and boost funds for border security.
“The Administration spent months working with a bipartisan group of Senators to reach a national security agreement that secures the border and provides support for the people of Ukraine and Israel, while also providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by conflicts around the world,” the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement. “Instead of working in good faith to address the most pressing national security challenges, this bill is another cynical political maneuver.”
The bill would give $17.6 billion in aid to Israel alone, as opposed to the $118 billion bipartisan Senate package unveiled over the weekend which would give $14.1 billion to Israel, around $20 billion for enforcement work on the U.S.-Mexico border, and $60 billion to Ukraine. House Republicans have vehemently opposed the Senate bill, vowing to reject it and instead vote only on legislation offering aid to Israel.