Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday called on Congress to pass a stalled aid package for Israel and other countries, pointing to Iran’s weekend attack as additional impetus for the funding.
Israel, with some help from the U.S. and Britain, fended off an overnight bombardment of 300 drones and missiles launched by its longtime nemesis Tehran. One girl was wounded in southern Israel and an Israeli airbase was struck by another missile, which damaged it slightly. The attack was alarming enough to put the NYPD on alert in the Big Apple on Sunday.
With congressional aid to the two nations’ respective defense efforts hanging in the balance, Schumer urged House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), to help push through the supplemental security package that would buttress war defenses for Israel and Ukraine.
“Thank God the number of injuries were few; the number of missiles that actually hit the ground were small, as Israel and the U.S. took out about 99% of them,” Schumer, a New York Dem, said at a press conference at his Midtown office. “We were all on tenterhooks last night wondering what would happen, and now we’re all breathing a giant sigh of relief.
He said he’d spoken on the phone with President Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Johnson, emphasizing the U.S.’ “ironclad” commitment to Israel.
“The cooperation between Israel and the United States in taking out these drones and missiles was superlative,” Schumer said. “And that’s why so few of them actually hit their targets.”
He praised the cooperation of other countries including France, England and some Arab nations, though without specifying which ones, and said it “showed that Iran is becoming more and more isolated in its evil actions.”
Schumer noted that Israel had blasted through more than a billion dollars’ worth of weapons under Iran’s onslaught and needed help to replenish those defenses. The $95 billion security bill that has already passed the Senate is key, Schumer said, emphasizing the importance of its passing in the House this week.
While Johnson has voiced support of Israel aid, House Republicans appear to be lukewarm on parts of the package that would send funds to Ukraine and Taiwan.
“Ukraine will lose this war unless they get the defense materials they need, the ammunition and the anti-aircraft stuff they need, immediately,” Schumer said. “There was a consensus on the phone among all the parties that we had to help Israel and help Ukraine. And now, hopefully, we can work that out and get this done next week. It’s vital for the future of Ukraine, of Israel and the West.”
After weeks of stalemate, Johnson promised Sunday that House Republicans are “going to try again this week” to pass aid for Israel, though he did not go into detail.
With News Wire Services
