President Biden will request funding from Congress for Israel and Ukraine to “meet America’s national security needs” – an investment he said will “pay dividends for American security”, while warning that Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “completely destroy a neighboring democracy.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The president addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Thursday night, a day after visiting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials in Tel Aviv. Biden and Israeli officials discussed the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The president said he would send an “urgent budget request” to Congress on Friday, saying “to meet America’s national security needs, to support our vital partners, including Israel and Ukraine, is a smart investment that lasts for generations.” “Will pay dividends for American security.”
The president said that if the package is approved, it would “help keep American troops out of harm’s way, help us build a world that is more secure, more peaceful for our children and grandchildren in Israel. Will be more prosperous.”
US President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC, US. Biden appealed directly to the American people to support funding for Israel and Ukraine’s war effort, warning that Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose parallel threats to American democracy. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We must make sure they have everything they need to protect our people today,” Biden said. “And always the security package that I am sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security that will accelerate Israel’s qualitative military edge, which we have committed to Have done.”
Biden said the funding would help ensure Iron Dome “will continue to protect Israel’s skies.”
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“That means protecting civilians as much as possible in the war. And the people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine.”
The president also spoke with Palestinian Authority President Abbas on Wednesday, saying he “reiterated that the United States is committed to the dignity of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.”
“The actions of Hamas terrorists do not have an immediate impact,” Biden said.
President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in a meeting with Israeli and U.S. government officials in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Ivan Vucci)
But while Biden said he was “saddened by the tragic loss of Palestinian life,” he insisted that the explosion that killed hundreds of people at a Gaza hospital “was not carried out by the Israelis.”
Israel declared war on Hamas after the terrorist group infiltrated the country on October 7, firing thousands of rockets at residential areas and brutally killing more than a thousand civilians, while taking hundreds of others hostage.
“The terrorist group Hamas unleashes pure, pure evil on the world,” Biden said. “But sadly, the Jewish people probably know better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they seek to inflict pain on others.”
Biden said: “Hamas has a stated purpose for existence: it is the destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of the Jewish people.”
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But the president stressed that Hamas “does not represent the Palestinian people.”
Biden said, “Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of it.”
At least 4,200 people on both sides have been killed in the war, including at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers and 31 Americans. Palestinian health officials say at least 2,808 Palestinians have been killed and more than 10,950 injured.
More than 30 American citizens have died in Israel and 12 remain unaccounted for.
US President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC, US. Biden directly appealed to the American people to support funding for Israel and Ukraine’s war efforts, warning that Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose parallel threats to American democracy. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
President Biden visited Israel this week amid the war against Hamas following deadly terror attacks. (Brandon Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the president’s attention turned to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Biden said, “History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction — they move on.” Live.” “And the costs and risks to America and the world continue to grow.”
“If we don’t stop Putin’s hunger for power and control over Ukraine, he won’t limit himself to just Ukraine,” he said.
Biden said Putin “has already threatened, quote, to remind Poland that its western lands were a gift from Russia. One of his top advisers, the former president of Russia, has threatened to remind Poland that its western lands were a gift from Russia. Is called the Baltic Province of Russia.
“These are all NATO allies. For 75 years, NATO has kept the peace in Europe and been a cornerstone of American security,” Biden said. “And if Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO, which the treaty requires and that’s something we don’t want.”
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Biden said that if the United States “turns away” from Ukraine, and allows Putin to “erase Ukraine’s independence”, then “aggressors around the world will be emboldened to attempt similar risks of conflict.” And the chaos could spread to other parts.” In the world, in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East, especially in the Middle East.”
Biden warned that Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine and is also supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region.
“We will continue to hold them accountable,” Biden said.
The president also said that thanks to the US coalition of more than 50 countries around the world, Ukraine has regained more than 50% of the territory that Russian troops once occupied.
Biden said, “What happens if we leave? We are an essential nation.”
US President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC, US. Biden appealed directly to the American people to support funding for Israel and Ukraine’s war effort, warning that Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose parallel threats to American democracy. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The president warned that Putin “has turned to Iran and North Korea to purchase attack drones and ammunition to terrorize Ukrainian cities and people from the very beginning.”
However, Biden stressed that he “will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine.”
Biden said, “Ukraine is only asking for help with weapons, munitions, capability, the ability to push invading Russian forces from its land and air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities.”
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The President pointed out that US funding sends equipment to Ukraine “sitting in our stockpile”.
Biden said, “When we use money allocated by Congress, we use it to fill our own stores, our own stockpiles with new equipment, equipment that protects America and is made in America.” Are.”
Meanwhile, amid the brutal war between Israel and Hamas, the President urged the American people to condemn anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Biden said, “I know we have divisions at home. We have to overcome them. We cannot let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation.” “We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win.”
He added, “I refuse to let that happen.”
The President said that “in moments like these, we have to remember who we are.”
He said, “We are the United States of America. The United States of America. And nothing is beyond our capability if we do it together.”
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The funding request, which is expected to be formally implemented on Friday, is likely to amount to about $100 billion over the next year. The total figure is expected to include some funding for Taiwan’s defense and management of the flow of migrants at the southern border with Mexico.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Brooke Singman is a Fox News digital politics reporter. You can reach her at [email protected] or @BrookeSingman on Twitter.
Source: www.foxnews.com
