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US Senate unveils new security package – including £11.1bn in funding for security assistance for Israel
The US Senate has unveiled a $118bn (£93.4bn) border security package – which includes $14.1bn (£11.1bn) in funding for security assistance for Israel.
The proposed package also includes $2.44bn (£1.93bn) in funding to support US Central Command in its operations in the Red Sea.
An additional $10bn (£7.9bn) will provide humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.
The bipartisan border security bill was unveiled by the US Senate on Sunday.
A large chunk of the funding outlined in the bill is due to go towards security on the US’s southern border.
However, the package has paired the funding with support for US allies such as Israel, as well as Ukraine, which is set to receive $60bn (£47.5bn) in aid for its fight against Russian invasion.
“The United States and our allies are facing multiple, complex and, in places, coordinated challenges from adversaries who seek to disrupt democracy and expand authoritarian influence around the globe,” the Senate’s top Democrat, senator Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
“The priorities in this bill are too important to ignore and
too vital to allow politics to get in the way.”
Congress has been stalled on approving the funding for Ukraine.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican, has insisted that border policy changes be included in the funding package.
He has been
supportive of the negotiations, arguing Republicans would not get
a better deal under a Republican White House.
However, the bill still faces opposition from Donald Trump and hardline conservatives.
“I urge Congress to come together and swiftly pass this
bipartisan (Senate) agreement,” president Joe Biden said, also praising the
migration measures in the bill.
