Republicans in the House of Representatives are planning dozens of votes on measures supporting Israel and condemning Iran after the weekend attacks, but still have no direction forward on financing the U.S. ally.
Speaker Mike Johnson has placed 17 new bills involving Iran and Israel on the House agenda after Iran launched drone strikes on Israel over the weekend.
He has postponed plans for Appliance Week, during which the House was expected to vote on a series of messaging measures against the Biden administration’s regulations on home appliances such as gas stoves.
The bills would require the US to “fully implement” sanctions on Iran and ensure there are no loopholes, limit Iranian imports, crack down on financial transactions between the US and Iran and that Chinese companies that buy oil from Iran will be sanctioned.
Speaker Mike Johnson has placed 17 new bills involving Iran and Israel on the House agenda after Iran launched drone strikes on Israel this weekend
Republicans are planning dozens of votes on measures supporting Israel and condemning Iran, led by Ayatollah Khameini, above, after the weekend’s attacks, but still have no direction forward on funding the US ally.
Another bill would eliminate the phrase “from the river to the sea,” controversially used by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., as anti-Semitic, and another would urge the EU to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. a terrorist organization.
In light of the attacks, Democrats have increased pressure on Johnson to put the Senate-passed $95 billion additional funding bill, with money for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Conservative hardliners have warned Johnson against linking any Ukrainian funding to an Israeli aid bill. Johnson has remained coy about how he plans to proceed, but convened an emergency conference of his Republicans on Monday evening.
Israel considers Iran’s 350-missile attack a “declaration of war” even though it says 99 percent of the rockets have been intercepted.
The attack was in response to Israel’s drone strike in Syria, which killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.
Meanwhile chairman Biden faces mounting pressure to curb the crisis, with defense experts claiming the president has allowed the conflict to escalate Gaza to spread and that the expanding battle lines risk attracting allies, including the US.
Donald Trump last night accused Biden of “weakness and incompetence” as he railed against his election rival for failing to address the American public following Tehran’s attack, the first-ever direct attack on Israel.
IDF spokesman Peter Lerner confirmed Monday morning that there would be retaliation from Israel, saying this could mean “an attack or no attack.”
He explained that the military leadership has presented “a wide range of options” and that there are “many different scenarios” on the table.
Iranian missiles launched at Israel, as seen on Iranian TV
An anti-missile system goes into action after Iran launches drones and missiles towards Israel, seen from Ashkelon, Israel on April 14, 2024
The Israeli government will “decide on the steps forward” as early as Monday or in the coming days, Lerner told reporters.
Johnson has indicated that he wants to get foreign aid across the finish line for both Israel and Ukraine. But he has not said whether that will consist of one or more votes.
Appearing with Johnson on Friday, Trump said he was “taking a look” at aid to Ukraine but preferred it in the form of a loan rather than a direct grant.
Johnson and his top officials have discussed using the Lend-Lease Act, which would require Ukraine to return any military equipment not destroyed after a certain time period, and the REPO Act, which would seize Russian assets held in the whole world is frozen. globe for Ukraine.
An image taken from a video taken early on April 14, 2024 shows rocket trails in the sky above the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem
But a motion to leave has been hanging over Johnson’s head since Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene launched the bid to oust him last month. The Georgia Republican is a staunch opponent of aid to Ukraine and has already threatened to target Johnson if he raises the issue.
With the razor-thin Republican majority, Johnson can only afford to lose three Republicans and keep his job.
The Senate-passed bill included both humanitarian and military aid: $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific.
Johnson suggested he would not introduce the Senate bill in the House of Representatives because adding only military aid would be more “palatable” to members.
“No American taxpayer should be tasked with keeping the nation of Ukraine’s pension system afloat.”
Any foreign aid bill would likely have to pass under a suspension of rules in the House of Representatives, meaning a two-thirds majority would be needed to pass.
The bill would lose some Democrats who would oppose further aid to Israel without humanitarian conditions. It would lose some Republicans who are outright opposed to aiding Ukraine, which could jeopardize its chances for a proposal.
But Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries insisted the bill would pass even if it were shelved — he would get enough Democratic votes.
“I believe there are enough votes to ensure that the National Security Act makes it to the legislative finish line,” Jeffries said.