In a prime-time speech to the nation Thursday night, President Biden made his case for an unprecedented $100 billion-plus aid package — most of it intended to fund military operations in Ukraine and Israel. “It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations,” Biden said.
“In Israel, we must make sure they have what they need to protect their people — today and always. … We’re going to make sure Iron Dome continues to guard the skies over Israel. We’re going to make sure other hostiles in the area know Israel is stronger than ever, so we can prevent this conflict from spreading,” he said.
The president’s speech reassured many in New Jersey who have loved ones in Israel. Arie Behar, a Somerset County resident, said his family welcomed Biden’s support and the aid package. Behar, who has cousins serving in the Israel Defense Forces, said, “Definitely there is a sense of revenge and the rage is unbelievable. But I would say that most of the people in Israel just don’t want innocent people to die.”
Biden’s speech — only his second prime-time address to the nation — came a day after he visited Tel Aviv. He spoke of Israeli grief and anger following the brutal Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Biden also addressed the plight of Palestinians caught in Israel’s pounding retaliation and blockade of vital supplies.
“The US remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don’t take that right away,” the president said. “We mourn every civilian life lost. We can’t ignore the humanity of Palestinians who only want to live in peace.”
But many Palestinian Americans in New Jersey disagreed. Duaa Abufares lives in Clifton. Her father, who is in northern Gaza, has dual citizenship but won’t leave his family. She criticized the aid to Israel: “They are not really trying to get rid of Hamas. They’re just right now ethnic cleansing and doing genocide to a Palestinian people.” She added, “When they’re sending billions of dollars to Israel, they’re basically harming more civilians, Palestinian civilians, because you’re giving money to the people who’s hurting us in the first place.”
The $106B request ties together aid for several purposes, including $61.4 billion for military aid to Ukraine, $14.3 billion for the aid to Israel, and $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. The request includes $14 billion for immigration enforcement, $4 billion to counter China’s Indo-Pacific influence, and $3.4 billion for a submarine industrial base.
Palestinian and Jewish communities across the nation have reported a spike in hate crimes, including a six-year-old Palestinian boy stabbed to death outside Chicago. Biden denounced the violence. The president also promised that securing the release of American hostages held by Hamas remains his highest priority.
