EFE
The leader of the majority of the United States Senate, Chuck Schumer, said this Sunday that progress has been made towards a consensus between the White House and congressional leaders to approve the sending of aid to both Israel and Ukraine after a call with the President Joe Biden.
This Sunday, the US president spoke with Schumer, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and the minority leaders, Hakeem Jeffries and Mitch McConnell, about the tension in the Middle East, after Iran's attack on Israel.
“There was a consensus that we have to help Israel and Ukraine now. Hopefully we can resolve it next week,” said the Democratic leader at a press conference in New York.
The US Senate approved an aid package for Israel and Ukraine last February, but Johnson has not brought it to a vote in the Upper House. The Republican leader has also failed twice to approve funding for Israel.
“The best way to help Israel rebuild its anti-missile and anti-drone capabilities is to approve that additional aid immediately,” Schumer said.
Voices of consensus were heard since Saturday when House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced a change in the legislative calendar to “consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable.” “, as indicated in a statement.
For his part, Johnson told the Sunday Morning Futures program that he will try again this week to approve the funds.
The consensus between Democrats and Republicans comes after Iran launched more than 300 drones, missiles and ballistic missiles at Israel on Saturday, in what was the first attack of this type from Iranian soil.
Israel – with help from the United States, the United Kingdom and neighboring Jordan – managed to intercept 99% of those missiles, most of them outside Israeli airspace.
