Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is fed up with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) meddling in Israeli affairs and is taking matters into his own hands. The speaker’s office confirmed that Johnson is considering a clean stand-alone bill to provide $17.6 billion in aid to Israel. This move comes after Schumer made the audacious call for new elections in Israel, claiming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost his way.”
.@SpeakerJohnson considering stand-alone Israel aid bill following comments from @SenSchumer on foreign ally’s elections https://t.co/DxpNzWbuXZ https://t.co/DxpNzWbuXZ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 14, 2024
The bill, which aimed to support Israel in its fight against Hamas, failed to pass under suspension on Feb. 6. But Johnson is not backing down. With the razor-thin majority in the House, he faces an uphill battle in garnering enough support from his fellow Republicans. Yet, Johnson remains undeterred, insisting that the urgent situation in Israel demands swift action.
Johnson’s camp has slammed Schumer’s comments as “reckless,” with spokesman Taylor Hauslee expressing deep concern over the Senate Majority Leader’s interference in Israeli politics. Johnson himself has condemned Schumer’s remarks as “highly inappropriate” and “just plain wrong,” emphasizing the need for American leaders to support, not undermine, our closest ally in the region.
Joining the chorus of disapproval, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) called on Schumer to stop stalling a Republican-led bill that would provide essential aid to Israel. Despite the bill passing the House last year, it has been languishing in the Senate under Schumer’s watch. Scalise, echoing Johnson’s sentiment, stressed the unwavering commitment of Republicans to stand by Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorist threats.
The battle lines have been drawn, and the partisan clash over Israel aid is intensifying. With Schumer’s divisive intervention and Republican determination to support Israel, the stage is set for a political showdown in the halls of Congress.
