After Iran attack, lawmakers focus on aid for Israel

(NewsNation) — Following Iran’s direct military assault on Israel over the weekend, the House of Representatives has scrapped its initial agenda.

Lawmakers had previously scheduled hearings about legislation focused on household appliances for this week, but these were canceled in favor of 17 bills either supporting Israel or punishing Iran.

None of these bills, however, is the $95 billion security package the Senate passed back in February. This package includes $60 billion allocated to Ukraine and $14 billion to Israel.

Johnson is under immense pressure from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate to take it up. NewsNation obtained a letter from 74 Democrats addressed to Johnson urging him to put the bill on the House floor for a vote.

“This aid package passed the Senate with 70 votes, Democrats and Republicans, and we can send it to the President’s desk for signature Monday night,” the letter said.

U.S. President Joe Biden recently spoke with congressional leaders, while Johnson said representatives could vote on the aid package in the coming days.

Political Division Over Aid

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told NewsNation Political Editor Chris Stirewalt he doesn’t necessarily know if Ukraine and Israel aid will be passed together at this time, though.

“Israel really divides the Democrat party, the Republican Party is sort of divided on Ukraine,” Bacon said. “It may be we could get both out as standalone bills, but I support both.”

Growing numbers of Democrats have been asking the Biden administration to put conditions on aid given to Israel, especially after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers in Gaza. Biden himself, in a recent call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the aid workers’ deaths, said U.S. policy regarding Israel will be determined by whether it implements concrete steps to address “civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers” in Gaza.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,700, according to the AP. Officials declared war after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and kidnapping 250 others.

Meanwhile, some Republicans have been arguing that the United States needs to focus on its own problems, including immigration, before giving more assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

This means it could get complicated for Johnson if he does end up putting a bill on the floor that ties Ukraine and Israel funding together.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has already put forward a bill that would begin the process of removing Johnson from his House Speaker position — something that already happened to his predecessor, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Iran’s attack on Israel

The Associated Press writes that Iran’s attack Saturday was the first time the country had launched such an assault on Israel, though there have been “decades of enmity” between the two places since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Over 200 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were launched by Iran on Saturday in response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic facility earlier this month that killed 12 people.

The U.S. and Israel’s air defenses intercepted the majority of the incoming attacks, although one child was wounded, and the situation sparked global concern about further escalation in the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement, said U.S. forces “remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the region, provide further support for Israel’s defense, and enhance regional stability.”

Israel has vowed to retaliate, despite world leaders urging them not to. A senior U.S. official told NewsNation that the Biden administration said that if Israel chooses reprisals against Iran, the United States will not take part.

NewsNation digital producers Damita Menezes and Rich Johnson contributed to this report.