Divisions In GOP Emerge Over Biden’s Unified Aid Package For Israel And Ukraine

A Biden administration’s proposal to combine U.S. aid to Israel and Ukraine into a single package is facing criticism from several House Republicans.

The Biden administration, alongside lawmakers, is considering a plan to advance U.S. aid to Israel and Ukraine together amid Israel-Hamas war. However, many House Republicans object to this approach, arguing that the situations in both countries are separate issues, NBC News reports.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a noted critic of Ukraine aid, argued against combining the two aid packages, emphasizing that the challenges faced by Israel and Ukraine are distinct and should be addressed separately.

“No. They’re two separate matters. Not even the same at all,” said Greene. “Our government’s funding Ukraine’s government, funding the proxy war with Russia. Israel has their own government. Israel defends themselves. Two separate issues.”

The Ukraine funding was not included in the stop-gap bill that was two weeks ago in order to keep the government from a shutdown.

“They shouldn’t be tied together. I will not vote to fund Ukraine. Absolutely not,” said Greene in her opposition. “Israel is totally separate.”

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) also urged the U.S. to prioritize aid to Israel and continue debating aid to Ukraine, independently. “One’s an argument that’s in process. The other is an acute need, and we need to tend to that first,” he said.

The GOP’s enthusiasm for helping Ukraine resist Russia appears to be waning, led by opposition from supporters of former President Donald Trump. This shift is causing an internal conflict within the party, with some Republicans warning that a Russian victory in Ukraine would disrupt the global balance of power and pose a threat to U.S. national security.

Trump allies have been suspected to be in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin as the former president maintains support from his base.

This came after Greene last month voiced her strong opposition to two spending bills after Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reversed his earlier decision to remove Ukraine aid from the Pentagon funding bill.

Earlier, Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, also pointed out the apparent distaste for Ukraine’s plight among some U.S. Congress members, notably Greene. 

Greene has been seen as the firebrand for the Republican caucus along with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who was responsible for the ousting of McCarthy from the speakership.

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