Topline
President Joe Biden said in a primetime Oval Office address Thursday that he would propose an “urgent” security package to Congress on Friday that will support Israel and Ukraine in their respective fights against Hamas and Russia and “pay dividends for American security for generations.”
Biden emphasized support for Israel and Ukraine in the address. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)
Key Facts
Biden did not provide details on the size of the package but multiple reports have said the administration is drafting one worth $100 billion, with $10 billion of it set to be allocated to Israel.
Biden argued that “American leadership is what holds the world together” in a speech emphasizing the U.S.’ support for Ukraine’s war against Russia and Israel’s war with Hamas is necessary to prevent further “chaos” in the world.
The president said Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin represent “different threats” but that both share the common goal of wanting to “completely annihilate a neighboring democracy.”
“We’re not withdrawing,” Biden said in the address of American commitment to supporting Ukraine, noting the U.S.’ “adversaries and competitors” are watching the country’s response to the Ukraine-Russia war, which has lasted for more than a year and a half.
Biden suggested Putin could expand the war without continued American support for Ukraine, while vowing the U.S. would “defend every inch of NATO” if Russia ever attacks an allied NATO country, though the president maintained he doesn’t seek to have American troops fighting against Russia.
What To Watch For
Israel has been preparing for an anticipated ground invasion against Hamas after gathering tens of thousands of troops along the border with Gaza, according to the Associated Press. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told soldiers Thursday they would “see [Gaza]
from the inside,” adding “It might take a week, a month, two months until we destroy [Hamas].”
Chief Critic
“The horrific catastrophes taking place in Israel as well as the chaos on our Southern Border and in hotspot after hotspot around the world, all have one thing in common: they were caused by Crooked Joe Biden’s deadly combination of incompetence, radicalism, and weakness,” the campaign for former President Donald Trump said in a statement.
Key Background
Biden has held firm in his support of Israel throughout the conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas invaded southern Israel. The president has supported Israeli officials’ claim that an explosion that killed hundreds of people at a Gaza hospital was not conducted by Israel’s military. Biden said Saturday his administration would also prioritize the “humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” referencing the region’s residents who are holding on to scarce supplies of food, water and power that the United Nations has called an “unprecedented catastrophe.”
Further Reading
Biden Backs Israel’s Claim It Did Not Strike Gaza Hospital—After Palestinian Officials Blamed Israeli Airstrike For Killing Hundreds (Forbes)
Israel Approves Egyptian Humanitarian Aid For Gaza After Biden Applied Pressure (Forbes)
U.S. Destroyer Shot Down Missiles, Drones Near Yemen (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/19/biden-calls-for-urgent-funding-for-israel-and-ukraine-in-oval-office-plea/