Headlines
Israel requests $10 billion from the US in a “emergency”
According to the publication, the White House has been working on a plan to merge funds for Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine.
The New York Times reported on Monday that Israel had asked the US for $10 billion in urgent aid, citing three anonymous officials. The White House and members of Congress are putting the finishing touches on a package that would include money to secure the US-Mexico border as well as military aid to Taiwan, Ukraine, and Israel.
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers had discussed giving Israel new and replacement ammunition, precision-guided bombs, and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, which transform common munitions into more accurate ones, during a visit to Tel Aviv on Sunday, according to the NYT.
The report did not go into additional detail regarding the joint aid request of $10 billion.
On October 7, when Hamas launched a rocket attack on southern Israel and moved fighters across the border, tensions between the two sides erupted, resulting in the deaths of around 1,400 people.
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In retaliation, the Israel Defence Forces bombarded Gaza with hundreds of bombs and cut off its water and electricity supplies. According to local health officials, nearly 2,800 Palestinians have perished in airstrikes over the past 10 days.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated on Monday that Washington could afford to assist both Israel’s and Ukraine‘s military requirements. She argued that the US had the financial means to support its allies abroad. The official did, however, recognise worries about a wider Middle East conflict’s possible economic effects.
However, CNN reported last week that the Pentagon had asked defence manufacturers to increase output to make up for deficits in stocks caused by weaponry transfers to Kiev, in order to ensure that it could supply Israel. This is despite top US officials’ insistence that both Israel and Ukraine can be sustained.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning on Monday, saying that his nation was ready for a “long war” and would fight until Hamas was fully defeated. He also said that if Hezbollah tried to get involved in the fight, Israel was prepared to take revenge on them.