The Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday’s events as they happen.
With massive majority, US Senate okays aid package that includes billions for Israel
WASHINGTON — A sweeping foreign aid package easily passes the US Congress after months of delay, clearing the way for fresh Ukraine funding amid advances from Russia’s invasion force and Kyiv’s shortages of military supplies.
The Senate approved by 79 to 18 four bills passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, after House Republican leaders abruptly switched course last week and allowed a vote on the $95 billion in mostly military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and US partners in the Indo-Pacific.
The four bills were combined into one package in the Senate.
The largest provides $61 billion in critically needed funding for Ukraine; a second provides $17 billion for Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world, and a third mandates $8.12 billion to “counter communist China” in the Indo-Pacific.
A fourth, which the House added to the package last week, includes a potential ban on the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine and new sanctions on Iran.
Biden has promised to sign the measure into law as soon as it reaches his desk, and his administration is already preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first to be sourced from the bill, two US officials told Reuters.
Argentina asks Interpol to arrest Iranian minister for his role in 1994 AMIA bombing
BUENOS AIRES — Argentina has asked Interpol to arrest Iran’s interior minister over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, the foreign ministry says.
That minister, Ahmad Vahidi, is part of an Iranian delegation currently visiting Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and Interpol has issued a red alert seeking his arrest at the request of Argentina, the ministry says in a statement.
Argentina has also asked those two governments to arrest Vahidi, it adds.
North Korean officials make rare public visit to Iran
A North Korean delegation led by the cabinet minister for international trade is visiting Iran, the North’s official media says in a rare public report of an exchange between the two countries believed to have secret military ties.
The minister for external economic relations, Yun Jong Ho, left Pyongyang on Tuesday by air leading a ministry delegation to visit Iran, the North’s KCNA news agency says. It gives no other detail.
North Korea and Iran have long been suspected of cooperating on ballistic missile programs, possibly exchanging technical expertise and components that went into their manufacture.
Iran has provided a large number of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, Reuters reported in February.
North Korea is also suspected of supplying Russia with missiles and artillery, although both countries have denied the allegation.
Yun has previously worked on the country’s ties with Syria, according to South Korean government database.
Yun has been active in the country’s increasing exchanges with Russia, earlier this month leading a delegation to visit Moscow, according to KCNA.
Pictures of Hamas hostages put up across from anti-Israel encampment at Columbia
Jewish students at Columbia University have put up pictures of the hostages held by Hamas, across from the anti-Israel encampment that pro-Palestinian demonstrators have set up on campus.
Alongside the photos of the hostages are an American flag and a banner calling to “bring them home now.”
In front of the pro Palestinian encampment that Jewish students were forced out of: students put pictures of hostages that are still held in Hamas captivity. @Omer_Lubi said: “133 innocent people still suffer in captivity, every human rights activist should act for their release” pic.twitter.com/VIjQ4Og3df
— נריה קראוס Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) April 23, 2024
White House wants ‘real progress’ before US restores UNRWA funding
WASHINGTON — The White House says it will “have to see real progress” before restoring its funding to the UN agency for Palestinians, the main aid agency operating in war-torn Gaza.
The comments from National Security Council spokesman John Kirby came after the US froze aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency following accusations by Israel that its staff may have participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
A UN probe is looking into those accusations.
A separate independent review into UNRWA found some “neutrality-related issues” in its much-anticipated report released Monday. It noted Israel had yet to provide evidence for incendiary allegations that staff were members of terrorist organizations.
“In terms of our funding of UNRWA, that is still suspended. We’re gonna have to see real progress here before that gets changed,” Kirby says.
Many donor countries have resumed funding since Israel’s accusations, including Sweden, Canada, Japan, the EU and France — while others, including the United States and Britain — have continued to hold out.
“We welcome the results of this report and strongly support the recommendations in the report,” Kirby says, noting that the United States also faced legal constraints in restarting its funding.
Congress passed a bill signed into law by President Joe Biden last month that blocks US funding until March 2025.