Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) spoke at a press conference concerning House Republican efforts to provide aid to Israel. In his address to the media, Speaker Johnson shared his plans for the Republican Conference to support Israel.
Many of my colleagues have called for a “ceasefire.”
Let me be clear: there was a ceasefire – before the October 7th attack.
We must pass aid to Israel now. Inaction is not an option. pic.twitter.com/B7vkopAL7p— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) November 2, 2023
“Regarding Israel, while House Republicans are leading on approach, we’re also leading the charge to support our cherished friend. And last week, in one of my first acts as Speaker, we passed a resolution reaffirming our commitment to Israel in its moment of peril,” said Johnson.
However, the newly elected Louisianan called out House Democrats for playing politics instead of prioritizing aid for Israel.
“And now as Israel begins the next phase of its war, it’s been kind of disturbing to us. I’ve heard Democrats suggest that there needs to be a ceasefire,” said Speaker Johnson. “Let us be clear, we’ve been very clear about this: There was a ceasefire. It was before Oct. 7. And Hamas broke it. And Israelis suffered unspeakable acts of evil as you’ve heard, even recounted here this morning. Israel doesn’t need a ceasefire; it needs its allies to cease with the politics and deliver support now.”
Johnson continued, saying that Republicans plan to put politics aside and support the United States’ greatest ally in the Middle East.
That’s what we’re doing. House Republicans plan to do that. We’re going to do it in short order. It provides Israel the aid it needs to defend itself, free its hostages, and eradicate Hamas, which is a mission that must be accomplished,” said Johnson.
President Joe Biden (D) has proposed a plan requesting over $100 billion to provide support to both Israel and Ukraine. Republicans for the most part have rejected this idea.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) echoed this sentiment when he and his Republican colleagues sent a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) demanding that federal funding for Israel “not be leveraged for more Ukraine funding.”
The senators wrote, “We write today in the wake of over 1,400 Israeli civilians and at least 30 American citizens having been killed over the last week after brutal Hamas terrorists invaded Israel. Other Americans remain unaccounted for. Hamas has slaughtered farmers on their kibbutzim, massacred teenagers attending an outdoor concert, desecrated the bodies of raped and murdered women, and stolen children from their homes.”
While the House of Representatives focuses on funding for Israel, it will have to address funding the government, which will shut down on Nov. 17 if no action is taken.
