Breaking news-Biden Threatens to Veto Bill That Would Help Israel but Not Ukraine

 Biden vows to reject the "political ploy" Israel bill passed by the US House.

As the White House pushes for a more comprehensive measure offering assistance to Ukraine and Israel as well as new funds for border security, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration announced on Monday that he would veto a stand-alone bill that would provide aid to Israel and was supported by Republicans in the House of Representatives.

The White House Office of Management and Budget released a statement saying, "The Administration strongly encourages both chambers of the Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President's desk."

A new tab was unveiled on Sunday that combines billions of dollars in emergency aid for Ukraine, Israel, and allies in the Indo-Pacific region with a revamp of U.S. immigration policy and increased funding for border security. Representatives from the Democratic President's administration have been working on legislation with Senate Democrats and Republicans for months.

In addition, the $118 billion expenditure plan would help populations impacted by international wars with humanitarian aid.

"The Administration strongly opposes this ploy which does nothing to secure the border, does nothing to help the people of Ukraine defend themselves against Putin's aggression, fails to support the security of American synagogues, mosques, and vulnerable places of worship, and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are women and children," said the statement.

Speaker of the Republican-controlled House Mike Johnson declared on Saturday that the House would not support the bipartisan Senate bill and would instead vote this week on a resolution that would exclusively provide aid to Israel.

In a statement released on Monday night, Johnson declared, "The president's veto threat is an act of betrayal." "In threatening to veto aid to Israel and our military forces, President Biden is abandoning our ally in its time of greatest need."

Republicans are sharply split on the proposal, with front-runner Donald Trump and his closest allies vocally opposing it and criticizing the Senate version for not being tough enough.

Before the November election, Trump has focused much of his campaign rhetoric against Biden on border security with Mexico.

A bill pertaining just to Israel was passed by the Republican-majority House in November, but it was never discussed in the Democratic-led Senate because Biden wanted Congress to adopt a more comprehensive emergency security plan.

Patricia Zengerle reported; Eric Beech, Costas Pitas, and Dan Whitcomb contributed additional reporting; Stephen Coates edited the piece.