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AFP
AFP
Washington (AFP) – Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives passed legislation Saturday to provide key aid to Ukraine and Israel, and bolster Taiwan while also threatening a ban on TikTok if it fails to divest from Beijing. The bills, passed in a rare Saturday session, were approved in quick succession by overwhelming bipartisan votes, though they leave the future of House Speaker Mike Johnson in some doubt as he seeks to fend off angry far-right detractors. US President Joe Biden welcomed the votes, saying in a statement they would “deliver critical support to Israel and Ukraine; provide…
Comments were received by San Diego Jewish World from a variety of perspectives, pro and con.
Jacobs Votes Reluctantly for Israel Aid
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) voted to pass humanitarian aid for Sudan and Gaza; defensive aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan; and more.
Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Last month, as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, I visited Sudanese refugees along the Sudan-Chad border and saw firsthand their dire need for help. Sudan is facing the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, and 25 million people – including 14 million children – need immediate humanitarian assistance. Today, I voted in favor of a robust aid package that will help address this humanitarian crisis in Sudan. That same package will help address the preventable, catastrophic famine that has started in northern Gaza and assist the 1.5 million displaced Palestinians who need immediate food, water, first aid, and shelter in Rafah.
“While I’m deeply concerned about further military assistance to Israel, I couldn’t in good conscience vote against this lifesaving humanitarian assistance when millions of people around the world are suffering. I’m proud that Democrats demanded including humanitarian assistance as a condition of supporting any package. Going forward, the U.S. must enforce existing law and policy and withhold further offensive weapons to Israel, given the reports of restrictions on humanitarian assistance and significant civilian casualties.
“I also voted to pass long-overdue aid for Taiwan and for Ukraine to support their defense against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. We must continue to stand with our partners as they fight for their democracy and future.
“But America’s leadership is more than just funding. We must continue to push for lasting political solutions to address the incredible suffering and insecurity around the world, including an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of hostages, and an end to the fighting between the RSF and SAF in Sudan.”
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Jewish Voice for Peace Compliments Democrats Who Voted Against Aid to Israel
Jewish Voice for Peace Action condemns today’s passage of H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024, which will send billions of dollars in unconditional military funds and weapons to the Israeli government amid its horrific genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Passage of this legislation is a moral stain on Congress.
JVP Action also applauds the members of Congress who stood on the right side of history by voting against this destructive legislation. In particular, the 37 Democrats who opposed this legislation because of Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza is a watershed moment in U.S. politics, and signals that what was once unquestioning bipartisan support for the Israeli government’s violations of international law has now broken apart.
The members of Congress who opposed this legislation are representing the popular will of the majority of Americans. These members of Congress have taken a stand on the right side of history, by refusing to reward Prime Minister Netanyahu’s mass atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza
Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Action: “History will not look kindly on the members of Congress who voted to send more warplanes, bombs, and unconditional military funds that will further enable the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. This vote rewards the warmongering Netanyahu regime and brings the entire region closer to the brink of a full-blown war.
“The historic number of Democrats who voted ‘no’ today have taken a stand for humanity and human rights. Their votes reflect the desire of the overwhelming majority of their base – including American Jews – who do not want our tax dollars to fund genocide. Jewish Voice for Peace Action applauds their stance.”
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Christians United for Israel Praises Speaker Johnson for Advancing Israel Aid
On Saturday, the leadership of Christian United for Israel (CUFI), the nation’s largest pro-Israel, organization released the following statements applauding the House of Representatives for advancing emergency aid to Israel.
“Speaker Johnson’s leadership has never shown more brightly than today. Advancing this security assistance moves us one step closer to ensuring the will of the American people becomes the policy of the United States and Israel has the vital support she needs to defeat our common enemies,” said CUFI founder and chairman Pastor John Hagee.
In advance of Saturday’s vote, CUFI held an emergency meeting in Washington, hosting 250 ministry and community leaders from across the country. During the fly-in, the diverse group of Christian leaders from around the country met with their representatives on Capitol Hill to express support for bipartisan emergency supplemental aid to Israel.
CUFI then, on Thursday, launched an Action Alert asking members of Congress to support both the aid to Israel and the rule that allowed the legislation to come to the floor. Nearly 65,000 Christian Zionists nationwide responded to the alert.
“Some leaders win to govern, others govern to win—what Speaker Johnson has achieved this week proves he is the former. That the Speaker was able to build bipartisan consensus should be applauded, not condemned,” said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker.
“Our message to Congress remains unchanged: Each vote against this aid was a vote against the national security interests of the United States, against our allies, and was no doubt applauded by the world’s tyrants,” Parker added.
In addition to the Israel emergency supplemental, the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, included several top CUFI priorities, chief among them the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act, which was one of the group’s 2023 CUFI Washington Summit legislative agenda items, as well as additional strong sanctions on the Islamic Republic and its proxies.
With more than 10 million members, Christians United for Israel is the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States and one of the leading Christian grassroots movements in the world. CUFI spans all fifty states and reaches millions with its educational message.
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Republican Jewish Coalition Says Members of Both Parties Deserve Praise for Voting for Aid to Israel
The Republican Jewish Coalition released the following statement in response to the House of Representatives passing emergency aid bills to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks said: Today, the US House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, sent a clear message that America stands with Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan against the brutal aggression of Iran, Russia, and China.
The historic importance of this moment cannot be overstated. The Jewish state is in an existential struggle for its very survival – suffering the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust on October 7th, and the battle continues. The $14.2 billion Israel aid package provides our ally with what it needs to defend itself, including $4 billion to replenish Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems and $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system to counter short-range rockets and mortar threats.
RJC applauds the members of both parties who found a way to work together to produce results, strengthening the security of the United States and our essential security partners around the world.
We are particularly grateful and appreciative for the courageous and principled leadership of Speaker Johnson, who put it all on the line to do what’s right for America and our allies.