President Biden spoke Tuesday with a bipartisan group of five senators who were in Tel Aviv last weekend, to discuss providing aid to Israel in its war with Hamas.
The call from the White House came ahead of Mr. Biden’s trip to the region. It included Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat; Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah.
Mr. Biden is leaving later Tuesday for Israel, which is still reeling from the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas. He will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss supplying Israel with military aid and ammunition.
The president will also travel to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Biden will talk with the leaders about the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Mr. Biden’s conversation with the bipartisan lawmakers comes as he plans to ask Congress for an aid package that exceeds $2 billion to support Israel and Ukraine, which is still locked in its war with Russia.
Mr. Schumer is already pressing the upper chamber to pass an Israel aid package with enough bipartisan support that it will be able to clear the House when it heads to the floor. The House has been unable to pick a speaker, meaning it cannot consider aid to Israel or other legislation until one is elected.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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