What happened?

  • The U.S. Senate passed a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package in a bipartisan vote of 79-18.

  • The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, and $9 billion for Gaza.

  • The bill faced some opposition from conservative Republicans in the House, but Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell viewed stopping Putin as crucial to national security.

  • President Biden praised the Senate’s passage and plans to sign the bill, allowing the U.S. to start sending weapons to Ukraine this week.

What is International media saying:

  • The package aims to provide Ukraine with military equipment, strengthen national security, and demonstrate American leadership in supporting democracy and freedom. [apnews.com, nytimes.com, foxnews.com, cnn.com, washingtonpost.com, townhall.com, washingtontimes.com, cbsnews.com, nypost.com, axios.com, foreignpolicy.com, thehill.com, independent.co.uk, huffpost.com, irishtimes.com]

  • The US Senate passed a $95 billion aid package that includes $17 billion for wartime assistance to Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian relief to Gaza, and $8 billion to counter Chinese threats in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. [jpost.com, timesofisrael.com, haaretz.com

What is Israeli media saying:

  • The aid package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $17 billion for Israel, and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for conflict zones, as well as $8.12 billion to counter communist China in the Indo-Pacific, was a top priority for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. [timesofisrael.com, haaretz.com]

  • The package also includes funds for economic assistance to Ukraine, seizure of Russian assets, and sanctions on Iran, Russia, and China, as well as a potential ban on TikTok and new sanctions on Iran. President Joe Biden has promised to sign the measure into law promptly. [timesofisrael.com]

  • $9.2 billion will be transferred as humanitarian aid to Gaza. [ynet.co.il]

What is Arab media saying:

  • The aid package could be the last approved for Ukraine until after elections in November when the White House, House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for grabs. [arabnews.com]

  • Much of the opposition to the security assistance in both the House and Senate has come from Republicans with close ties to former US President Donald Trump, a Ukraine aid skeptic who has stressed “America First” policies as he seeks a second term. [arabnews.com]

  • The influx of weapons should improve Kyiv’s chances of averting a major breakthrough in the east by Russian invaders, although it would have been more helpful if the aid had come closer to when Biden requested it last year, analysts said. [arabnews.com]

  • The House passed the Ukraine funding by 311-112, with all “no” votes coming from Republicans, many of whom were bitterly opposed to further assistance for Kyiv. Only 101 Republicans voted for it, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson to rely on Democratic support and prompting calls for his ouster as House leader. [arabnews.com]

Sources: