White House rejects GOP-led bill for $17.6 billion in Israel aid as ‘cynical ploy’

The White House says a Republican proposal for $17.6 billion in military aid for Israel and to replenish US weapons stockpiles, but which leaves out more help for Ukraine, is a “cynical political maneuver.”

The proposal, announced by Rep. Ken Calvert of California Saturday, comes as the Senate is set to consider a long-awaited bill re-upping US funding for Ukraine, while also providing aid to Israel and stiffening controls along the US-Mexican border.

House Republicans have balked at that bill under the urging of former US president Donald Trump. Saturday’s bill seemingly allows them to show support for Israel while still pulling back military aid for Ukraine and denying US President Joe Biden a chance to look tough on immigration.

“The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says. “We strongly oppose this ploy which does nothing to secure the border, does nothing to help the people of Ukraine defend themselves against Putin’s aggression, and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, the majority of them women and children, which the Israelis supported by opening the access route.”

The Democrat-controlled Senate is seen as unlikely to back the House bill.

The House has already approved a nearly $14.5 billion military aid package in November for Israel that the Senate declined to take up. That bill had demanded that the money for the aid be found by cutting budgets elsewhere, including the IRS.

AP contributed to this report.