White House opposes passing Israel aid without Ukraine package, says US official

WASHINGTON — White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reiterates the Biden administration’s opposition to potential Republican efforts to pass standalone alone legislation providing security aid for Israel, insisting that such assistance should be approved through a broader supplemental package that also includes aid for Ukraine along with US interests in the Indo-Pacific.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers managed to get such legislation through the Senate last year, but it has since been stalled by House Republicans amid opposition from former US president Donald Trump.

“We don’t support a standalone bill that only funds Israel because Ukraine needs munitions too,” Kirby tells reporters in a briefing.

The White House spokesperson notes reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to have heeded its call to cease trying to separate the Ukraine and Israel aid packages. Kirby urges the House to move this week on passing a supplemental aid package.