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Absolutely delighted to have come across the myVisit appointment app and discover that it caters to the appointment needs for some public offices in Israel as well. Various government offices require you to make an appointment ahead of time and this app makes it easy. Municipal offices, water companies and insurance companies are also integrated into the app.

Downloading the myVisit app

• Download the app onto your mobile phone either from the iPhone Play Store or from Google Play and follow the sign in procedure.
• Once you have downloaded the app, fill in your personal details as requested and your mobile telephone number.
• An identification sign-in code will be sent to your mobile phone.
• Select “Plan a visit” from the menu toolbar
• Select the relevant office and then follow their instructions accordingly

How to register on the myVisit website?

• Registration on their website is equally user friendly.
• All you need to do is visit www.myvisit.com (in English)
• Enter your mobile number
• Confirm that you are human and not a robot
• A sign in code will be sent to your mobile via SMS
• Enter the sign in code
• Set up the appointment as per the instructions
• Must-have apps for Israel

Make an appointment online for Bituach Leumi, Misrad HaPnim & The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration

You can make appointment online via myVisit appointment app for

• Bituach Leumi – National Insurance Institute
• Misrad HaPnim – Ministry of the Interior
• The Ministry of Aliyah & Integration – Misrad Haklitah 
• The Ministry of Transport – Misrad HaTachbura
• The Ministry of Construction & Housing
• Israel Post
• The Israel Electric Corporation
• Egged and the Rabbinate

Water Authorities

You can also make an appointment online via myVisit appointment app for these water authorities; Beer Sheva, Hadera, Tamar, Shikma, Ashkelon, Avivim, Lod, Yavne, Kiryat Gat, Noam, Reket (Tiberias), Ramat Gan, Maayanot HaHof, Maayanot HaDarom, Ziv, Neve Midbar, Ein Afek and Ein Netafim

Municipalities & Regional Councils

You can also make appointments for these municipalities and regional councils: Ramat Gan, Lod, Emek Hefer, Modiin , Pardes Hannah – Karkur, Gadera, Ashdod, Midot, Beer Sheva, Ashkelon ,  Holon, Beit Shemesh, Yehud, Haifa , Maaleh Adumim, Kfar Saba, Kiryat Gat, Afula, Sderot and Rishon Le Zion.

You can also make an appointment for the Phoenix insurance company via the myVisit appointment app.

In fact, there are 64 public offices in Israel that are affiliated to the myVisit App.

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Traveling to Israel? 10 must-have travel apps

If you’re planning on traveling to Israel, I can guarantee that this is going to be one of the most useful posts you will see. These apps will really improve your trip.

Let’s dive straight in

The first app that will pop into Israelis’ heads is probably Waze, but I want to start with WhatsApp.

This is by far the most popular app that Israelis use to communicate with others. The only reason that Israelis wouldn’t consider recommending WhatsApp is that they will assume you have it already.

Even if you prefer Telegram or Signal, do yourself a favor and download WhatsApp for your trip to Israel.

Now almost all of the next apps will be about transportation: navigating your way, parking and public transportation.

Transportation is often overlooked by travelers before they come and it’s only once they’re here that they understand how important it is.

Not only should you be thinking about where you want to go, but also how you plan on getting there, what options you have and how much those options cost.

Waze is a navigation app used by Israelis. It was developed in Israel and bought by Google for 900 million dollars. It is a source of national pride.

To tell you the truth, I tend to use Google Maps, because it has a cleaner interface.

I’m also mentioning it here because it has a very useful feature that Waze doesn’t have: Waze will tell you how to drive from your location to your chosen destination, but if you are in Jerusalem and want to know how long of a drive it is from Tel Aviv to Haifa, then with Google Maps it is much more intuitive. The reason that Waze is worth having is that very often you don’t look for an address, but for the name of a place, like the name of a restaurant or of a bed & breakfast and that is something that Waze does much better.

Most cars that you rent will have a USB port, so if you’re planning on using Waze or Google Maps when driving, and you pretty much have to, make sure you have a USB cable to charge your phone.

If you don’t plan on renting a car, you can download Waze Carpool, which is a separate app for… carpooling. You ride together and share the costs.

Understanding the public transportation systems – trains, buses, trams – in a new country where you don’t understand the language can be frustrating.

Moovit makes it so much easier.

First, you can easily plan your trip: the trains, the buses, the light rail are all there and you can see it all in real time, so you can find out, for example, how long it’s going to take for the bus to arrive.

And the app has just got even better because not only can you pay for your ride with the app, but you can also pay at the end of the month and get the cheapest possible prices.

Here is an example: let’s say you visit Tel Aviv for 3 weeks for work and you need to use the bus. On some days you use the bus twice a day, on some days you don’t use it at all and on other days you use it 4 times a day. At the beginning of your day or at the beginning of the week, you may not know how many rides on the bus you’re going to take.

With Moovit you just scan the code on the bus at the start of each ride and then choose your destination in the app. At the end of each month you are charged the lowest amount possible.

So if you’ve used public transportation a lot, you will be charged for a monthly pass, if you’ve only used it on some days, you will be charged for day passes.

It is a really genius idea!

There are a few things to know: you need to scan the code on every ride and choose your destination, and the payment is made through a third app called Pango, (The next app).

You will need to enter your credit card details in advance. There are other apps that basically do the same sort of thing: I like HopOnRav-pass. I think it’s more intuitive.

In every category I will try to give you more than one option, so if you have trouble registering in one app, you have another option to try.

Israelis are used to often needing to enter their ID or passport numbers, which consist only of numbers. If your passport number has letters in it, or you just don’t want to enter it, you can sometimes enter 9 times zero or one instead. Do yourself a favor and register on these apps before you come and don’t try to do it in a panic one minute before your bus arrives.

Pango and Cellopark

First I will say what I always say: if you want to enjoy your trip to Israel, do yourself a favor and don’t do too much driving in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Rent a car only once you’re leaving these cities to head to the Negev and to the Galilee. Anyway, when parking, it’s best to ask someone if you need to pay for parking. If the pavement is marked with blue and white, you usually need to pay.

The best way to pay is with these 2 apps, because then you only pay for the time you actually parked your car there, and if you allow the app to know your location, which I recommend that you do, then the app will usually tell you if you are parking in a space where you need to pay.

You can also pay with these apps in different parking lots. Moovit uses Pango to manage the public transportation payment.

Gett & Yango

If you plan on taking taxis, I highly recommend using an app. That way you run a smaller risk of getting ripped off. In Israel we don’t use Uber but we do have GETT and Yango.

Google Translate

In Israel we speak Hebrew and Arabic, and Israelis do now tend to speak quite good basic English, as most of the TV series and movies are in English.

I have an unproven theory that in small countries like Israel, Holland and the Czech Republic, people can speak better English than in bigger countries like Spain, France, the U.K and Germany.

Anyway, it’s fun to point the camera at text in Hebrew and instantly have it translated. We’re living in the future!

Number 8: In Tel Aviv there are electric scooters, I guess you know them from other cities. The common ones are Bird,Lime, Wind and there are other two.

Israel Hiking Map

There’s another app that I’ve been wondering whether to recommend or not. It’s called Israel Hiking Map. It shows you a topographic map with all the roads, dirt roads and hiking trails. There’s a similar one called Amud Anan.

I want you to go hiking and these are good apps but my biggest fear is that someone will watch my hiking videos and recommendations, download a topographic map app and just go out hiking, potentially on a day that is too hot, with insufficient water and no real knowledge of how to travel in the desert.

You need to know what you’re doing. Never walk alone and always consult Israelis who are in the know.

Israel hiking map

Jerusalem with Oren

All the apps I have mentioned up until now are free. This last one will cost you a little money initially but end up saving you much more money in the long run.

It’s my own app – Jerusalem with Oren. I have a few things to say. First of all, I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to finish uploading my tours.

In the last six months, I’ve been able to spend I don’t know how many weeks sitting down and working because of Corona, or rather Corona implications, but I will just say that the app has got much better.

I have added the Ramparts tour, added some recommendations and I have added 10% discount coupons for all of the Abraham hostels, in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Eilat, as well as 10% discount coupons for all of the Abraham tours.

So even if you’re only booking a room for 3 nights in Jerusalem, 3 nights in Tel Aviv and booking a tour to Masada, or Petra, in Jordan, you will be saving yourself about $150 as well as getting access to my tours and recommendations. In the menu on the lower part of the screen, click the ‘discount codes’ button, and there you will find all the discount codes and relevant links. I am going to keep on improving my app over the next few weeks and once I’ve finished it I will be raising the price, so if you plan on traveling to Israel, you should get it now.

Best hotels & hostels in Israel

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Places to visit

• JERUSALEM TRAVEL GUIDE
• TEL AVIV TRAVEL GUIDE
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• HOTELS GALILEEE
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• PDF BOOKLETS

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myVisit - Instant Appointment 4‏+

מיועד ל‑ipad.

• מס׳ 29 ב-פרודוקטיביות
• 1.8 • 635 דירוגים

myVisit® helps you plan and execute your next visit to any service provider on our partner's list. How does myVisit help you plan your visit? •Find a service provider by category, e.g. banks, doctors, government offices, telecom stores etc. •Find a service location nearest to you, or with the shortest waiting time •Schedule an appointment at the location, to ensure minimal waiting time How does myVisit help you during the visit? •Take a number for service, even before you arrive •Announce your arrival, without having to wait for a greeter •Follow the line progress on your phone * Are you a service provider? Want to join our partner's list and be accessible to myVisit users? Contact us at [email protected]

גירסה 3.6.3

דירוגים וביקורות

635 דירוגים

Please change the workflow

Trying to register to an exam through the application. Need to fill in: ID number, phone number, first name, last name. Only to find out there are now available dates... could you please change the order to first look for available dates and only then fill in the details?

Horrible experience

Confused by why I could select a date but not an hour and finalise my appointment, I ended up going to misrad hapnim to ask for an appointment. There someone explained to me I could wake up at 7h in the morning to get an appointment for the same day. Or I would have to skip all the dates i could click on and try to select a date in 2-3 months. Going thru the app was the only way though. Finding availability in an office nearby looks more like a lottery rather than a system. I end up finding plenty of available slots for the same day, but after re entering the id/phone number for the 10th time to check a closer place, all slots suddenly disappear in 5 min time… This app is a disgrace to israeli high tech… it’s as if combina after lots of efforts was a built in feature.

It’s madness!

First of all, there is no personal account in the application, where all my data would be stored in order not to enter them every time. Absolutely illogical mechanics of finding an available time for making an appointment, why can't I first choose a time, and then enter all my data. After 10:00am the app just dies. There is an option to choose English or Russian but this is purely nominal, everything is still in Hebrew. Sorry Israel but this app is Terrible!

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The Best Apps for Travelers in Israel

Apps can make travel much easier. Before traveling abroad, I always try to figure out which apps the locals use because I know I might benefit from them, too. So, if you’re coming to Israel, I want to share with you some of the best apps for travelers in Israel, including apps that we use here almost daily.

Featured image credit: Pixabay .

Table of Contents

Apps for public transportation in Israel

One of the best apps for public transportation in Israel is Moovit. You can use it to find your way from one place to another using public transportation. It shows you possible routes and the expected time of arrival of buses, light rail trains, and trains to your station.

Recently, Moovit also added an option to pay for public transportation directly through the app. You will need a stable internet connection for that.  

I use it very often, but beware – it gives you travel duration estimates that are usually far from reality. It seems like it doesn’t consider the huge traffic jams in Israel. So, if it tells you that it will take half an hour to arrive somewhere, add at least 15 minutes to its estimate. Sometimes, it can even take an hour. If you have to be on time, take enough extra time. 

Download Moovit on Android or iOS .

Here’s a short video about Moovit by Moovit :

Google Maps

Another app I often use for navigating around Israel with public transportation is Google Maps. Compared to Moovit, I feel it is more accurate in terms of travel duration estimates.

Like Moovit, you can choose your departure point and destination and view possible routes. It also shows how long it would take for the bus to arrive at your station. And if you’re navigating on foot, it’s also good to use the Offline Maps feature in Google Maps, which enables you to download offline maps in advance and use them later when there’s no internet connection.

Download Google Maps on Android or iOS .

Rav-Pass by HopOn

If you have an internet package and want to easily pay for public transportation, one of the best payment apps is HopOn. Its main focus is paying for public transport, but it also has a route planning feature.

Using the app, you can easily pay for the bus, the train, or light rail trains by simply scanning a barcode or choosing your departure station. And it also has the option to pay for parking, bike rent, and shared vehicles. Instead of purcahsing a travel plan in advance, it calculates all your payments and charges you based on all your travel during the month. The payment goes down your credit card.

Just make sure you have enough battery in your phone when you use it, so the ticket inspectors won’t tell you that you’re missing your ticket if your phone dies.

Download HopOn on Android or iOS . 

Rav Kav App

If you like traveling old-school and don’t want to mess around with payment apps, you can get a Rav Kav transportation card when you land in Israel. You can read more about the Rav Kav here . You can load it with an initial amount of money when buying it, but if you need to reload it, you don’t have to find a place that loads Rav Kav cards. You can download the Rav Kav App and reload it with money through the app. Your phone will need to have NFC for it to work.  

Download Rav Kav App on Android or iOS .

Taxi apps in Israel

In Israel, you can halt a taxi on the street, but you won’t always get a good price. The driver will often give you a much higher rate than the rate you’ll get when using a meter, and if you ask him to use the meter, he might not take you at all. That’s illegal, but it happens a lot. So, the best way to get a taxi in Israel is to use an app.

You can use Uber in Israel, but it’s like ordering a regular taxi.

The most popular Uber alternatives in Israel are Gett and Yango.

Gett finds taxi drivers fast, and they arrive within a few minutes to your location. They know where you need to go, and they have to use the meter, so you get a good price.  

Yango is also a great app. It shows you the estimated cost of the ride, so the taxi driver can’t fool you. And it also gives you the option to order a taxi for someone else. The only problem with Yango is that it doesn’t operate everywhere in Israel. It’s much more popular in Tel Aviv than in Jerusalem, for example.

Download Gett on Android or iOS .

Download Yango on Android or iOS .

Driving apps in Israel

If you’re planning on traveling Israel by car, you can use navigation apps to find your way around. Google Maps is an option, but most people in Israel use Waze because it provides you information about policemen, speedometers, and other problems on the road.

The only problem with Waze is that it might take you on weird routes that take much longer than the normal routes. Sometimes it even takes you on dangerous routes. So, it’s best to check the route before you start driving and see if there’s a better option.

Download Waze on Android or iOS .   

Watch this video by Waze :

Pango or Cello

Before renting a car in Israel, I recommend reading about parking in Israel . You will need to pay for parking if you park your car next to a sidewalk painted blue and white. To pay for parking, you can use either Pango or Cello (formerly CelloPark). And then, you can easily renew the parking payment directly from your phone.

Download Pango on Android or iOS .

Download Cello on Android or iOS .

Apps for hiking

If you like hiking, there are hundreds of hiking trails all around Israel. There are day hikes and longer hikes that can last about 2 months. Read more about the best hikes in Israel . While you can find paper maps in travel shops throughout Israel, I believe the best way to navigate your way on the trails is by using hiking apps. Here are two hiking apps I like to use when hiking in Israel:

Israel Hiking Map

This is my favorite hiking app. It shows you updated hiking routes all around Israel and your location on the trail. But what I like most about Israel Hiking Map is that it allows you to measure distances and view an elevation chart, which makes it easier to plan your hikes. You can also share your hiking map with others, so if you have hiking companions or want to update your family about your hiking plans – you can easily share your plans.

Download Israel Hiking Map on Android or iOS .

Amud Anan is another lovely hiking map, though I think it’s less convenient for planning the hiking route. What I like about Amud Anan is that it tells you about places along the way. It’s a social app that allows people to pinpoint a location on the map and write about it. So, there are thousands of points that tell you about water springs, historical sites, and even problematic points along the trail. The problem for English speakers is that most of the things written there are in Hebrew.  

Download Amud Anan on Android or iOS .

Apps for communicating

I don’t know which communication app you use back home, but in Israel, most people use Whatsapp. So, if you want to communicate with people around here, it’s best to download Whatsapp and use it during your trip. Whatsapp allows you to both text and call people – free of charge.

Download Whatsapp on Android or iOS .

Instagram is less about communicating with the locals and more about communicating with your family and friends back home. Or, to be more precise – sharing your experiences with them. At the end of the day, after a day full of beautiful views and exciting experiences, you can connect to your accommodation’s WiFi and share your photos with the world. Don’t forget to tag #backpackisrael 😉

Download Instagram on Android or iOS .

In my opinion, those are the best apps for travelers to Israel. If you’re exploring Israel by foot and public transportation, you’ll surely need apps like Google Maps and Moovit. About the others – it depends on what you plan to do. In any case, I hope the list will help you make the most of your trip to Israel!

Think this post is useful or helpful?  Don’t forget to like, share and leave a comment 🙂

Also, check out my Facebook page,   Backpack Israel .

Full Guide to Springtime in Israel

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Rav-Pass told me they don’t accept foreign credit cards. Maybe an ordinary visa or mastercard bank debit card would work. What did you use?

I used Visa. If it doesn’t work with Rav-Pass, you can also try Moovit.

I used Visa credit card with Rav Pass. But Moovit also has the option to pay for public transport on the go, so check it out there. If you still have problems with it, you can contact me directly at [email protected] .

Many thanks. How strange that when I called Rav Pass in Israel, their rep said foreign credit cards were not accepted.

Thanks for ur app

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The Top 5 Must Have Phone Apps in Israel

Top 5 Must Have Phone Apps in Israel,  read on…

Over the past nearly 20 years, I have made at least 30+ trips between Israel and the States and have spent about half that time living there. These free phone Apps will make your trip easier and more rewarding. I guarantee it…  

WhatsApp Messenger

Waze – Real Time Traffic and Navigation

XE Currency Converter

Google Translate 

An excellent navigational routing App that will take you from Point A to Point B using multiple forms of Public transportation. It provides step by step (literally) navigation from the shortest distance walking to the nearest bus or train. It includes updated (in real time) bus and train schedules along with travel times and distances. You have the option to select your preferred routing and method of transportation. 

Please enjoy my Top 5 FAQS answered on travel to Israel . 

Safe and Pleasant Travels

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12 Israeli Apps You Need On Your Phone

by ISRAEL21c | 06.12.15 8:12 am

Want to take a selfie without hands? Do you dream about connecting with your favorite Chelsea footballers? Struggling to cope with an overflowing email inbox? Israeli app makers have you covered.

Here are a dozen made-in-Israel apps that could make your life healthier, more fun, and more efficient.

1. uHealth is a focus- and attention-building iOS app from the company Umoove. It relies on made-in-Israel eye-tracking technology to guide children or adults through games designed to train them gradually to ignore distractions and be more attentive. Points are earned as concentration improves and you advance to more challenging levels.

2. Safie allows parents to keep track of, and automatically locate, their children through their phone. The app also notifies parents in case of emergency via a panic button. Each child can be tracked by as many as five adults, and the app can be installed on any smartphone (both parents and children need to install Safie for the app to be operative). Parents can receive updates on the whereabouts of their children every few minutes, every hour, or once a day.

3. Fansino, an app to connect fans and performance artists, won App of the Year at the 2015 Mobile World Congress. Fansino enables artists to connect with their fan base, find out who’s listening to their work, track streaming services and their online presence, and keep tabs on social-media mentions. It allows fans to get rewards, find other fans of the same artists, and follow favorites through one feed. Fansino’s pitch won first prize at the Mobile Premier Awards in Barcelona, March 2015.

4. Mashable called Qork “a refreshingly new take on local discovery.” Available in 25 languages, Qork lets users discover and share local content—including news, blog posts, events and conversations—and explore the area’s content via a map or a feed. Users can also create “qorks” to share interesting things such as restaurant reviews and local news, or to ask questions such as “What’s the best running routes in the area?” or “What local restaurant has the most authentic Vietnamese food?”

5. Browz’In alerts mall shoppers to relevant bargains via targeted messages from the mall’s retailers. If you like what you see, you can redeem the promo like a personalized coupon. “Our goal is to enable smaller retailers to advertise on the smartphones of consumers in their vicinity, in order to compete with the chain stores that are creating in their own branded apps to promote their stores,” explained Jerusalem-based Browz’In inventor Maxime Seligman.

6. Most of us suffer from inbox clutter, and that is what MailWise was created to fix. The Android app offers a range of features to streamline and simplify email communications, such as omitting repetitive information such as signatures, headers, and formalities; providing a chat-like view of ongoing email threads; automatically grouping updates and notifications from social networks; and controlling when to receive notifications and when to block them. MailWise supports most email services and keeps all user info private.

7. Hop turns email messages into chat conversations similar to the way people use SMS or chat apps. It can be used to connect with others in real time through video, photos, documents, live chat, and voice calls, synced with desktop emails so conversations, documents, and media are stored on your cloud service. U.S. tech evangelist Robert Scoble said Hop “blows away Mailbox and the Gmail app.”

8. VoGi, billed as the world’s first app for sending voice emojis (over WhatsApp), was conceived during a Jerusalem hackathon earlier this year and launched in beta on a budget of just $15. That money was spent on a Fiverr campaign to hire three “talented and funny people” to record most of the sounds. VoGi seeks to put the human touch into texting, and future versions will let users create and send personalized VoGis in one click without typing. The team is already in discussions with a large car manufacturer.

9. ENTiTi by WakingApp is an augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) platform to create interactive and dynamic content without any prior development experience. All content is instantly available online for any mobile device or VR/AR glasses. WakingApp launched the beta version at the 2015 Mobile World Congress, where it was a finalist in the Global Mobile Awards for “best technology enabler.”

10. The touch-free photography app Snapi uses machine-vision and gesture-recognition tech from Israel’s eyeSight Technologies to capture photos within a 13-foot range. Open the app on your device, raise an open palm in front of the camera, close your palm into a fist and open it again to start the timer and capture the photo. Another Israeli app offering hands-free selfies is CamMe.

11. InPlay, a social messaging app with a soccer twist, lets fans and clubs interact using customizable trending content, chat tools, and image and video sharing. The Israeli app scored a partnership with Chelsea FC to help fans meet and engage with each other, as well as with the club and its players. “We wanted to create the digital form of tribal belonging that fans embrace,” said InPlay CEO Meni Michaeli. InPlay has also designed a monetization platform for third-party developers and publishers to reach this hyper-focused online community.

12. Musketeer is a free personal safety app that connects people who want to help with people needing help in their area. Users can alert others to a crime or other incident when it happens, with the ability to attach a photo, video, or voice note.

(via Israel21c )

[Photo: eyeSight / YouTube ]

Top 10 must have travel apps for a trip to Israel

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Switching off the phone (or leaving it behind) is a definite possibility when coming to Israel on holiday. But let’s face it, with the amazing variety of smart phones and other devices now available, you’re now only a tap away from discovering something new, grabbing a great deal, or immediately sharing some of the most amazing days of your life with friends and family back home (because once you’ve checked out some of the must-see attractions in Israel , you’ll be sharing left, right and center!)…

So here are the ESSENTIAL travel apps we feel you really should have on your device when you start thinking about that trip to Israel – and the best thing is, they’re all FREE!

1. XE Currency

OK, first things first, do you have enough money when converting it over to Israeli shekels ( Warning: Israel is a lot more expensive than you might think – but there are cheap ways to maximize your stay )? The XE Currency app will convert to and from almost all currencies and will be a big help when trying to work out if the taxi driver has just conned you out of your hard-earned cash… XE Currency is available for all the main platforms.

If you need to check flights and the most efficient way of getting to Israel, the Hipmunk app is a great little addition to your smartphone. There’s even a nice graphical way of working out the most hassle-free way to fly, in regards to stopovers (it also integrates nicely with your phone’s calendar). Don’t even bother with the (er, crappy) hotel search option – use Trip Advisor’s app for that (see below). Hipmunk is available for iPad, iPhone, and Android.

3. Trip Advisor

It’s no accident these guys are one of the very best for independent travel reviews. The Trip Advisor app is a great tool for searching for restaurants and hotels in Israel, and we’d highly recommend it for its extensive coverage of options, especially based on some of the weak rival apps we checked out. Not everybody loves Trip Advisor, but this is a wonderful resource for a whole bunch of things to keep you fed and happy. Trip Advisor is available for iPad, iPhone, iPod, Nokia, Windows and Android.

4. Lingopal OR Google Translate

One of the first things you’ll come across on a trip to Israel is…Hebrew. We’ve got two options for you: Lingopal (you have to be 17+), or the old standard Google Translate . Both are great, although Lingopal will also teach those of you who need it how to flirt in Hebrew (and upgrade to get even more fruity, plus access to more languages). Great apps if you want to learn some of the local lingo. Both are available on the App Store and for Android.

5. Instagram

Taking pics on any vacation is, of course, a must. Taking pics on a trip to the Holy Land is an ABSOLUTE MUST! Instagram has become our favorite tool for taking pics and has fast become one of the most popular apps around, especially for the cool yoof of today. We love those filters, so come and find us – just search for igoogledisrael , we’ve already clocked up over 2500 pics! Instagram is available for the iPhone and Android.

6. Wi-Fi Finder OR Skype Wi-Fi

Finding some Internet-juice is often a tricky task, with most options we’ve ever come across when traveling demanding payment of some sort. But use either Wi-Fi Finder or Skype Wi-fi to locate those wi-fi spots, whether paid or free. It might be a good idea to use both if you’re in real need, just so you double your chances of finding a spot – and use your Skype Credits to pay for your online juice with the Skype Wi-Fi app. Both are available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

There weren’t too many Israeli apps that impressed us, but the VISITLV app was definitely one we’d add to this list. It had a pretty comprehensive list of things to see and do and some decent info for users too. It’s officially part of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality’s tourism push, and does a pretty good job, especially with the call and map options to each place and info on the free tours you can take. VISITLV appears to be currently available for iOS only.

If you’re going to be driving around in Israel, this Israeli-created app is a MUST. Waze is a community-based driving app, meaning other drivers out there have posted updates, including police traps (which have saved my non-Jewish bacon on a number of occasions) and reports of heavy traffic. It’s a great navigational tool, with a useful GPS engine that will help you out if you don’t know where you’re heading in Israel. Waze is available for iOS and Android .

9. Old City Walking Tours

Let’s face it, the Old City of Jerusalem is one of the places you’re more than likely going to squeeze in to a visit to Israel. And what better way to enjoy the twists and turns of the Old City than with the Old City Walking Tours app. You have to download each tour before you begin, but they only take a few seconds to get up and running. And they provide you with pretty much all the info needed for a great little tour! Available for iOS and Android devices.

Making free / very cheap calls (and don’t forget the video and messaging options) back home is what it’s all about, right? So we’d suggest getting the Skype app installed and jumping on a wi-fi network. We’ve not always experienced the best quality when calling internationally, so if you’re calling others with an iPhone, definitely try Viber , another FREE option (make sure the person you’re calling also has it!). Skype is available for the iPad, iPhone, and Android.

And another couple of apps that were almost in the running (and if you know of any other must-have apps, please let us know!)…

Get Taxi – If you plan to catch taxis in Israel, the Get Taxi app is a great little app to have. You have to sign up using your mobile number, via which you’ll get sent an SMS with a code which will enable you to use the system, but it does look like a great option to  have if you’re unsure how to grab a taxi in the Holy Land. Available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

telobike – If you fancy taking advantage of the bicycle rental system in Tel Aviv, install telobike , which gives you live updates on the status of bike stations around the city (but is mostly in Hebrew only). Available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

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2 Kings 13:14-21

2 kings 13:14-21 gnbuk.

The prophet Elisha fell ill with a fatal disease, and as he lay dying King Jehoash of Israel went to visit him. “My father, my father!” he exclaimed as he wept. “You have been the mighty defender of Israel!” “Get a bow and some arrows,” Elisha ordered him. Jehoash got them, and Elisha told him to get ready to shoot. The king did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands. Then, following the prophet's instructions, the king opened the window that faced towards Syria. “Shoot the arrow!” Elisha ordered. As soon as the king shot the arrow, the prophet exclaimed, “You are the LORD's arrow, with which he will win victory over Syria. You will fight the Syrians in Aphek until you defeat them.” Then Elisha told the king to take the other arrows and strike the ground with them. The king struck the ground three times, and then stopped. This made Elisha angry, and he said to the king, “You should have struck five or six times, and then you would have won complete victory over the Syrians; but now you will defeat them only three times.” Elisha died and was buried. Every year bands of Moabites used to invade the land of Israel. Once, during a funeral, one of those bands was seen, and the people threw the corpse into Elisha's tomb and ran off. As soon as the body came into contact with Elisha's bones, the man came back to life and stood up.

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The Big Stories: Florida's U.S. senators sound off on foreign aid, and abortion returns to the Supreme Court

Florida lawmakers react to foreign aid package's passage, and students at Eckerd College discuss Biden's abortion speech in Tampa.

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Biden signs ukraine, israel aid bill into law: 'it’s going to make america safer' supreme court appears skeptical that state abortion bans conflict with federal health care law eckerd college students react to president biden’s tampa visit, biden signs ukraine, israel aid bill into law: 'it’s going to make america safer'.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the U.S. will begin sending military equipment to Ukraine in the "next few hours" after a foreign aid bill cleared its last congressional hurdle Tuesday night following a monthslong standoff in the House. 

Biden signed the $95 billion bill — which contains assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, including Taiwan, as well as humanitarian assistance for Gaza — on Wednesday. The legislation would also force a ban of the social media app TikTok if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, does not divest itself. 

"It's gonna make America safer, it's gonna make the world safer, and it continues America's leadership in the world," Biden said during remarks at the White House on Wednesday, hailing it as "a good day for world peace."

The bill passed the Senate Tuesday night in a 79-18 vote after the House cleared the legislation — split up into four different bills — over the weekend. Tuesday night’s passage ended months of gridlock in Congress over the foreign aid, as some, particularly in the House GOP’s right flank, pushed back on the U.S. providing any additional aid to Ukraine. 

“For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine has been running out of artillery shells and ammunition," Biden said on Wednesday. "Meanwhile, Putin's friends are keeping (him) well supplied — Iran sending drones; North Korea sending ballistic missiles and artillery shells; China is providing components and know-how to boost Russia's defense production."

For months, Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned of what they described as dire consequences of abandoning Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. The president had originally requested Congress approve more aid for the country more than six months ago. Its approval on Tuesday marks a major victory for Biden and the Senate leaders. 

“The path to my desk was a difficult path. It should have been easier and it should have gotten there sooner,” Biden said. “But in the end, we did what America always does: We rose in the moment, came together, we got it done."

“Now we need to move fast,” he said. 

Almost immediately after the bill’s passage, the Department of Defense on Wednesday announced a $1 billion package for Ukraine containing air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. 

“I’m making sure the shipments start right away,” Biden said. 

Biden made the case the package is a “good investment” in America’s own security, noting the weapons going to Ukraine will replaced with weapons made in the U.S. 

“Patriot missiles made in Arizona; javelins made in Alabama; artillery shells made in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas,” Biden said. “In other words, we're helping Ukraine while at the same time investing in our own industrial base.” 

The president thanked congressional leaders for their support, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, a move that led to a handful of right-wing Republicans threatening to unseat him like they previously did to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The senate vote on the foreign aid package was 79 to 18

With 15 Republicans, two Democrats, and one Independent voting against the measure.

Both of Florida’s senators were among them, and they listed the same reasons for not joining the 31 Republicans who sided with the majority.

“While this invasion of Ukraine most certainly poses a national security interest to the united states and a risk to our country, the invasion of America across our southern border is even more important,” Sen. Marco Rubio said.

Sen. Rick Scott posted on X: “It makes zero sense for the U.S. to borrow billions to send in unaccountable aid to Ukraine to pay Ukrainian politicians’ salaries and secure their border while ours remains totally open. Biden’s invasion of criminals and terrorists is a national security disaster."

In February, both senators also voted to block bipartisan legislation that would have both boosted border security and provided aid for Ukraine and Israel.

Both senators disagreed with the deal, saying it did nothing to remove the millions of migrants already here illegally, authorized 250,000 green cards, and expanded humanitarian parole.

Scott and Rubio both say the president has the power to secure the border right now by re-instating the Trump-era policies Biden revoked at the beginning of his presidency.

Supreme Court appears skeptical that state abortion bans conflict with federal health care law

Conservative Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical Wednesday that state abortion bans taking effect after their sweeping ruling overturning Roe v. Wade violate federal health care law, though some also questioned the effects on emergency pregnancy care.

The case marks the first time the Supreme Court has considered the implications of a state ban since overturning the nationwide right to abortion. It comes from Idaho, which is among 14 states that now ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy with very limited exceptions.

The high court has already allowed the state ban to go into effect, even in medical emergencies, and it was unclear whether members of the conservative majority were swayed by the Biden administration's argument that federal law overrides the state in rare emergency cases where a pregnant patient's health is at serious risk.

The Justice Department says abortion care must be allowed in those cases under a law that requires hospitals accepting Medicare to provide emergency care regardless of patients' ability to pay.

Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the decision overturning Roe v. Wade, was doubtful.

“How can you impose restrictions on what Idaho can criminalize, simply because hospitals in Idaho have chosen to participate in Medicare?” he said.

Justices on the high court's liberal minority, meanwhile, aired arguments that Idaho's law was putting women's health at risk.

“Within these rare cases, there’s a significant number where the woman’s life is not in peril, but she’s going to lose her reproductive organs. She’s going to lose the ability to have children in the future unless an abortion takes place,” said Justice Elena Kagan.

The Biden administration argues that even in states where abortion is banned, federal health care law says hospitals must be allowed to terminate pregnancies in rare emergencies where a patient’s life or health is at serious risk.

Idaho contends its ban has exceptions for life-saving abortion, but allowing it in more medical emergencies would turn hospitals into “abortion enclaves.” The state argues the Biden administration is misusing a health care law that is meant to ensure patients aren't turned away based on their ability to pay.

The Supreme Court has allowed the Idaho law to go into effect, even during emergencies, as the case has played out. It makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Dueling protests were taking shape outside the court before the start of arguments on Wednesday. “Abortion saves lives,” read signs displayed by abortion rights supporters. Opponents displayed a sign that read, “Emergency rooms are not abortion clinics.”

Doctors have said Idaho’s abortion ban has already affected emergency care. More women whose conditions are typically treated with abortions must now be flown out of state for care, since doctors must wait until they are close to death to provide abortions within the bounds of state law.

Meanwhile, complaints of pregnant women being turned away from U.S. emergency rooms spiked after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to federal documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Anti-abortion groups blame doctors for mishandling maternal emergency cases. Idaho argues the Biden administration overstates health care woes to undermine state abortion laws.

The justices also heard another abortion case this term, which seeks to restrict access to abortion medication. It remains pending, though the justices overall seemed skeptical of the push.

The Justice Department originally brought the case against Idaho, arguing the state’s abortion law conflicts with the 1986 Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, known as EMTALA. It requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide emergency care to any patient regardless of their ability to pay. Nearly all hospitals accept Medicare.

A federal judge initially sided with the administration and ruled that abortions were legal in medical emergencies. After the state appealed, the Supreme Court allowed the law to go fully into effect in January.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

Eckerd College students react to President Biden’s Tampa visit

Eckerd College Political Science Professor Tony Brunello allowed  Spectrum News  to attend his class on Tuesday which coincided with President Joe Biden’s visit to Tampa to highlight his support for abortion rights.

“How many of you are surprised that President Biden is actually visiting Florida as a campaign stop at this point?” Brunello asked the class. “Is he wasting his trip?”

Student Madison Gley responded: “No … I definitely think it’s worth the trip reaching out to those people and getting a face-to-face interaction and him talking about his agenda. So, our citizens can really understand his plan.”

Three women students, all 20 years old and all independent or no-party-affiliation voters agreed to talk about the abortion issue on the November ballot and Biden’s visit.

Student Erin Flynn said it’s important for Biden to visit the Bay area to show his support for abortion rights as Florida’s six-week abortion ban goes into effect on May 1.

“I think Ron DeSantis has kind of dimmed everyone’s feelings lately and we’re kind of feeling hopeless,” she said. “I think with Joe Biden coming, it’ll be real good to hear his agenda and for people to think more about it.”

Student Noel Huchel Sullender said she plans to vote for Amendment 4 on the November ballot, which would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida  Constitution.

“Sometimes you need that health care. That is, in my opinion, that should be a woman’s right,” she said. “That is a health care, right? So, I think that is a huge issue.”

Student Angela Redman said it’s smart for Biden to highlight and contrast his position with former President Donald Trump, whose appointment of three Supreme Court justices overturned federal abortion protections.

“I think it’s really about the intrusion on our privacy and our intrusion on choice,” she said. “It’s not very fair to think that you are morally correct whilst taking away the choice of others.”

Professor Michael Binder, who is director of the public opinion research lab at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, said Republicans have nearly 1 million more registered voters than Democrats. Amendment 4 must get at least 60% of the vote to be approved, and Binder predicted that it will fail.

“We’ve seen it pass in red states, but we’ve never seen it get to 60%. I think that’s going to be a much harder one to get across the 60% line,” he said. “Not every 21-year-old college student is this big lefty liberal type, right? I have plenty of conservatives in my class that feel differently about these issues than you might expect.”

Binder said abortion rights are a positive issue for the Democratic ticket and it was a wise move for Biden to visit Tampa to highlight it.

Flynn agreed that it will be difficult to get the proposed amendment over the 60% threshold needed for the amendment to be approved, but said she is hopeful.

“We have a voice, we have a say,” she said. “We are the generation that chooses what happens in our government.”

Israel will defend itself, Netanyahu says, as West calls for restraint

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Lawyers for Russia's deputy defence minister appeal his pre-trial detention, TASS reports

Lawyers for Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov have filed an appeal against a court decision to remand him in pre-trial detention, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on Friday.

Will US sanction Israeli battalion? Netanyahu will 'fight it with all my strength'

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, April 21. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our story for Monday, April 22 .

Some Israeli leaders are lashing out at reported plans by the Biden administration to sanction an ultra-Orthodox Israeli combat unit that for years has faced claims of abuse against Palestinians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the intention to impose sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda Battalion as "the height of absurdity and a moral nadir."

"I will strongly defend the (Israeli military), our army and our fighters," Netanyahu said. "If somebody thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit in the IDF – I will fight this with all my powers."

Axios and the Israeli media outlet Haaretz , citing U.S. government sources they did not name, reported the battalion could be banned from receiving U.S. military assistance or training. The battalion, among other issues, was linked in the death of an 80-year-old Palestinian-American in 2022. Haaretz said the Biden administration is considering sanctions against other military and police units in Israel.

War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz asked U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reconsider the reported plan, saying sanctions are a dangerous precedent that "sends the wrong message to our common enemies in a time of war." The State Department, which has been investigating human rights violation claims against the battalion and other Israeli units for more than a year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said sanctions while Israel is fighting for its existence were "absolute madness."

"This is part of a planned move to force the State of Israel to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state and abandon Israel's security," Smotrich said.

But Israeli Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli dismissed the government's outrage as "yet another dose of denial and smearing, lies and covering-up the bitter reality." Michaeli described the battalion as a "regiment of ... those who see religion as an excuse to attack Arabs."

House passes aid for Israel: Ukraine, Taiwan also in package after months of fierce debate

Developments:

∎ Israel's chief of staff, Major General Herzi Halevi, approved undisclosed plans for the continuation of the war at the Southern Command. The command includes Rafah, a city packed with Palestinian refugees, where Israel has long been threatening a ground invasion to international scorn.

∎ Fourteen militants were killed, 15 were arrested, "a large amount" of ammunition and explosives were confiscated and two explosives laboratories were destroyed Sunday in an operation at the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank, the Israeli military said. Nine soldiers were wounded, the statement said.

∎ A Palestinian woman who attempted to stab soldiers at a checkpoint in the West Bank's Jordan Valley was "neutralized," the Israeli military said. No troops were wounded at the Beka’ot Checkpoint.

Netanyahu pledges to hit Hamas with 'additional painful blows'

Netanyahu addressed the Israeli nation Sunday, urging Israelis to remember their fallen heroes and wounded fighters on the eve of Passover and vowing to soon strike Hamas with "additional painful blows." Netanyahu said force is the only way to pressure Hamas to release more than 100 hostages Israel believes are still held by militants. The suffering of the hostages and their families "rends our heart and only strengthens our resolve to bring them back," he said.

"In the coming days, we will increase the military and diplomatic pressure on Hamas," he said. "This is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory."

Iranian leader applauds military for attack on Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei lauded his military on Sunday for "minimizing costs and maximizing gains" in its retaliatory strike on Israel a week ago as tensions between the two nations appeared to be easing.

"How many missiles were launched and how many of them hit their target is not the primary question," Khamenei said Sunday while addressing military leaders in Tehran. "What really matters is that Iran demonstrated its power."

Tensions that were already high grew more dangerous three weeks ago when Israel bombed an Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing several high-ranking Iranian military leaders. Iran struck back a week ago with its "Operation True Promise," attacking Israeli territory with more than 300 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles. Most were shot down and little damage was reported, but several days later Israel targeted the Iranian city of Isfahan. Iran said little damage resulted and seemed to dismiss the possibilty of further strikes.

Khamenei thanked the armed forces for its efforts and stressed that innovation in weapons and methods must "always be on the agenda."

Hamas condemns US funding bill for Israel

Hamas condemned "in the strongest terms" U.S. House approval of a security bill that includes $26 billion for military and humanitarian aid for Israel. The vote confirmed "the collusion and official American partnership in the extermination war" against Palestinians in Gaza, the militant group said in a statement. The bill drew negative reviews from some Democrats who want the funding tied to Israel's conduct in Gaza.

The bill goes to the Senate, where passage is expected. President Joe Biden has vowed to sign it.

Child saved from womb of dead mother after Gaza bombing

A baby girl was delivered from the womb of a Palestinian killed in Rafah as Israeli bombing intensified in the southern Gaza city, Palestinian health officials said. The baby, weighing a little over 3 pounds, was delivered by emergency C-section, was stable and was improving, Dr. Mohammed Salama said. At least 19 people, including 13 children, died when two houses were struck overnight, authorities said. Rafah is home to more than 1 million people, including hundreds of thousands who fled fled fighting elsewhere in the enclave.

"Here is the biggest tragedy − even if this child survives, she was born an orphan," Salama said.

Hamas leader's sister indicted on terrorism charges

An Israeli prosecutor has indicted an outspoken sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on charges of aiding a terrorist organization and incitement to terrorism, the Times of Israel reported. The indictment against Sabah al-Salem Haniyeh, 57, accuses her of sending two WhatsApp messages to dozens of her contacts, including her brother, “praising, encouraging and supporting” Hamas for its role in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed almost 1,200, resulted in more than 250 people kidnapped and ignited the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The state attorney asked a court to hold her until legal proceedings have concluded. She faces a total of more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Contributing: Reuters

House passes critical aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan along with a TikTok ban

WASHINGTON — The House on Saturday passed a $95 billion package that includes two long-awaited bills with $60.8 billion of aid for Ukraine and $26 billion in aid for Israel and relief for Gaza.

The Ukraine bill, which passed 311-112 with one present, will head to the Senate alongside the Israel aid bill and two others — one with aid for Taiwan and another that would force TikTok's parent company to sell the platform. 

Lawmakers waved Ukrainian flags and cheered upon the Ukraine bill's passage. Voting in favor were 101 Republicans and 210 Democrats, while Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., voted present. All 112 votes against it came from Republicans.

The Israel bill passed 366-58, with 193 Republicans and 173 Democrats voting in favor.

The bills passed weeks after the Senate passed a mammoth bill with aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as funding for border security. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., refused to bring that bill to the floor, instead opting to pass three separate bills with aid for the three nations.

The Ukraine aid bill comes at a crucial time in the country’s war with Russia, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed the urgent need for weapons and supplies to continue defending Ukraine from Russian attacks. 

President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lauded the House for passing the bills Saturday, with Biden saying in a statement that a bipartisan group of lawmakers voted to "send a clear message about the power of American leadership on the world stage."

"At this critical inflection point, they came together to answer history’s call, passing urgently-needed national security legislation that I have fought for months to secure," he said.

In a separate statement, McConnell said: “Today’s action moves this critical national security supplemental one step closer to helping America and our friends to meet the most dangerous array of threats in a generation. From the battlefields of Ukraine to the cities and kibbutzes of Israel, and from the Red Sea to the South China Sea, our adversaries are colluding to violently undermine America, our allies, and our global interests." 

The House also voted Saturday to force  TikTok’s parent company to sell it or be banned  in the U.S. According to the bill, China-based ByteDance would have to sell TikTok within nine months — which the president could extend to a year — or face a nationwide ban. The policy, which would lengthen the time frame for a sale from an earlier House bill, has Senate buy-in along with Biden’s support, putting TikTok closer than ever to being banned in the U.S.

The House also voted to provide $8.12 billion in aid to Taiwan.

The House voted on the four bills in succession, one day after a rare and extraordinary bipartisan coalition teed up the votes , with more Democrats (165) than Republicans (151) voting for the “rule” to proceed to the measures.

The three foreign aid bills will now go to the Senate. Taken together, they include the $95 billion aid package championed by Biden, with some changes from the version the Senate passed two months ago.

Holding the votes was an act of defiance by Johnson against an outspoken faction of conservative rebels who oppose funding for Ukraine and pushed him not to bring it to a vote. Three of them — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. — have threatened to oust him as speaker. Passing the bill may bring Greene one step closer to forcing a vote to remove him.

After months of wavering, Johnson sided with Biden, Democrats and the Republicans who believe that helping Ukraine fend off Russian aggression is essential to U.S. national security interests, citing briefings he has received and warning: “Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he were allowed.”

“I would rather send bullets to Ukraine than American boys,” Johnson told reporters, noting that his son will enter the Naval Academy this year. “This is a live-fire exercise for me as it is for so many American families. This is not a game. This is not a joke.”

Before the vote, former President Donald Trump issued a confusing statement that sympathized with both the pro- and anti-Ukraine aid factions of the GOP without taking a clear position.

The bills are expected to be packaged together and sent to the Senate, which will have to vote on the whole legislation to send it to Biden's desk to sign into law. It’s unclear when that will happen. McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are outspoken proponents of the foreign aid provisions in the package.

“I hope that President Biden will soon have on his desk long-awaited funding to support our friends in Ukraine and Israel and the Indo-Pacific and aid for innocent civilians in need of humanitarian aid in Gaza and around the world,” Schumer said before the House vote, cautioning that Ukraine's hopes against Russia would diminish without additional U.S. weapons to defend itself.

Late Friday, Schumer said the Senate was working to get unanimous agreement to move quickly to vote on the foreign aid legislation. “We are working on an agreement for consideration of the supplemental,” he said on the Senate floor.

McConnell said earlier this week: “Here’s the political reality: If you think the fall of Afghanistan was bad, the fall of a European capital like Kyiv to Russian troops will be unimaginably worse, and if stalled American assistance makes that outcome possible, there’s no question where the blame will land, on us.”

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Kyle Stewart is a field producer covering Congress for NBC News.