U.S. Offers $8.7 Billion to Israel as Americans Suffer Hurricane Helene Devastation

As the Biden administration hands Israel an $8.7 billion aid package to support its military efforts, a question hangs over the heads of many Americans: Why are we financing foreign wars when our own people face devastation? The aid package, which includes billions for air defense systems like the Iron Dome and advanced lasers, signals Washington’s unwavering commitment to maintaining Israel’s military edge. But at what cost to the American people?

While billions flow overseas, disaster-stricken communities in the U.S. grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The storm’s devastation across six states has left 128 dead, with bodies still being recovered from flood-ravaged neighborhoods. Families remain without power, homes are in ruins, and communication infrastructure has been obliterated, leaving many in a state of limbo. The death toll in North Carolina’s Buncombe County alone reached 40, and once-picturesque Asheville is now a submerged wasteland.

It’s not an unreasonable demand: help should begin at home. As we funnel resources into international military endeavors, millions of Americans find themselves in dire need of aid and support in the face of natural disasters and crumbling infrastructure. How can the the administration justify sending billions abroad while leaving its own citizens to fend for themselves in the wake of catastrophic events like Helene?

Prioritizing foreign aid, especially in times of domestic crisis, reflects a troubling disconnect between Washington’s global ambitions and the needs of the American people. The tragedies unfolding in the wake of Hurricane Helene demand immediate attention and resources. The conversation shouldn’t be about whether we can afford to help others—it’s about whether we can afford not to help our own.

America needs a course correction. If we continue to prioritize foreign conflicts over domestic disasters, the damage done at home could become a national emergency of its own. It’s time to turn our focus inward, where the real battles for survival are being fought.