U.S. House Speaker Splits Security Aid Package for Israel and Ukraine into Four Separate Packages

Security aid package split to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and others
Transition from unified support to separate support
Underscores the difference between long-time ally Israel and Ukraine

A massive security package, which has become a top priority in the U.S. Congress in the wake of Iranian attacks on Israel, is expected to be split into four parts.

According to the political media The Hill on the 15th (local time), U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a revised security package at a closed-door meeting in the Republican House.

The proposed package was split into four bills: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and others. In the case of others, it included a TikTok ban.

Initially, the U.S. Congress had prepared a massive aid package amounting to $95 billion. Still, it has not been passed for over two months due to disagreements between the Republicans and Democrats. However, with the need to support allied countries arising from Iran’s attack on Israel, Speaker Johnson announced that he would push for the passage of the aid package within this week.

Ukraine, which had been appealing for additional support from the U.S., hoped to receive support from Israel this time. However, they faced another setback as Speaker Johnson split the aid package into four parts.

Meanwhile, there are complaints in Ukraine regarding the U.S. supporting Israel’s air defense. In a briefing, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby answered why they did not directly defend Ukraine by saying, “Different conflicts, different threats.”

The political newspaper Politico said, “This underscores the difference between Ukraine, which has become a close ally since Russia’s invasion, and Israel, which has been a solid ally in the Middle East for decades. Ukraine hopes that the package supporting their country and Israel will pass, but Republican Senator J.D. Vance said that Israel is much more important than Ukraine.”