This week, the U.S. Senate is set to review a $105 billion national security supplemental request from the Biden administration, which includes aid to Ukraine and Israel, efforts to contain China, and tougher border security in the U.S. Meanwhile, House Republicans are planning to vote on an emergency aid package for Israel that does not include funding for other U.S. allies. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is advocating for the broader national security spending bill, while the House is pushing for a more targeted approach. The outcome of the Senate hearing and the House vote will be critical in determining the future of the Biden administration's national security spending bill.
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At least 50 people were killed and 150 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Tuesday, with the Israeli military claiming to have killed a Hamas commander responsible for a terror attack in October. Desperate civilians scrambled for food as civil order broke down in the aftermath of the airstrike, with the UN calling for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and an independent investigation. The airstrike is the latest in a series of escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas, with the UN warning that further violence could lead to a full-scale conflict in the region.
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Blinken was outlining the Biden administration's requests for more U.S. aid to support Israel's attacks on Gaza when the protesters began shouting slogans such as "You have blood on your hands!" and "Cease-fire now!" Security eventually removed at least one protester from the room. The protest comes amid a growing international outcry over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 200 people dead and thousands more injured.
Israeli troops continue to battle Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, with over 800,000 Palestinians displaced and 1,530 killed since Saturday. A new poll reveals that 70% of Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resign after the war ends, and the international community is pushing for an immediate cease-fire.
The Senate has confirmed Jack Lew as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, with support from only two Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of those Republicans, said the ambassadorship is "as important and timely as any nomination" due to the war against Hamas. Lew, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Obama, is expected to take up his post in Jerusalem soon.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has announced plans to issue subpoenas to three individuals in connection with a probe into ethics practices at the Supreme Court. The 11 Democratic members of the panel are targeting two wealthy Republican donors and an influential conservative legal activist in order to uncover more information about the trips provided to two Supreme Court justices. The investigation is a significant escalation of the Democrats' efforts to hold the high court accountable, and the subpoenas could provide important insight into the relationship between the justices and wealthy donors.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has announced plans to seek subpoenas for three influential conservatives as part of their investigation into Supreme Court ethics. This follows news reports about justices accepting gifts and trips from billionaires without disclosing them, as well as the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision to shield Gov. Scott Walker from a criminal investigation. The committee is hoping the subpoenas will provide more information about the influence of wealthy donors on the Supreme Court.
House Republicans have proposed a bill that would provide $14.3 billion in emergency funding for Israel, paid for by rescinding the same amount of IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill has been met with criticism from Democrats, and the outcome of the vote in the full House chamber this week will determine the fate of the bill and the funding for Israel. The bill sets up a collision with the White House and Democratic-controlled Senate over how to support a key U.S. ally.