US Senate to vote on 'Israel', Ukraine funds, anti-China, Iran bills

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Apr 2024 19:39

The US Senate prepares to vote on a series of bills including billions of dollars in arms to Taiwan and other regional allies as part of hostile policy against China.

Members of the US Jewish community protest against the Israeli genocide in Gaza outside the Cannon Senate office building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on October 18, 2023 (AFP)

The US House of Representatives is gearing up to vote on several foreign aid bills this Saturday, which encompass significant funding for Ukraine, Taiwan, and the Israeli occupation entity, and will also include new measures to sanction Iran and target China.

Among the bills to finance "Israel," a provision to prohibit funds from the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) will also be voted on.

The House will deliberate on $26.38 billion in aid for "Israel," comprising $4 billion to replenish the Iron Dome and David's Sling systems, as well as $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system, which remains in operation and is still in development process with a 2025 expected launch date.

Furthermore, the proposed legislation entails $60.84 billion in aid for Kiev, along with a provision to transfer frozen Russian sovereign assets to Ukraine and supply long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to the country.

It also includes conditions regarding repayment for economic support provided by the Ukrainian government, although it also contains clauses for debt cancellation. US Congressman Scott Perry referred to the loan measure for Ukraine as "all smoke and mirrors."

As part of the United States' anti-China campaign, over $8.1 billion in funding for the Indo-Pacific region will be reviewed, with $2 billion potentially allocated for foreign military support to Taiwan and other allies in the region.

Moreover, the House will examine a bill aimed at preventing TikTok from being featured on application stores or web hosting services unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

The proposed legislation aims to impose sanctions on ports and refineries that engage in transactions involving Iranian oil. Additionally, the legislation seeks to tighten export controls on Iran to limit its ability to acquire materials and technology that could be used in its missile and drone programs.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the US Senate has tentatively agreed to consider these bills on Tuesday if they pass in the House of Representatives.