New House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said that the Republican Party will “stand like a rock with our friend, and ally, Israel” during the convention of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) in Las Vegas this weekend. His comments came as Congress considers a potential aid package for Jerusalem during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Johnson cited the “demonic” attacks by Hamas terrorists earlier this month.
“I believe that God is not done with America yet, and I know He’s not done with Israel,” he said.
“We have a moment to rebuild the trust of the people and restore their faith in who we are, and what we’re fighting for,” said Johnson.
The new speaker said that his first resolution in Congress was regarding Israel and his first official trip was to speak to the RJC.
“I want everybody to know where we stand,” he said.
Johnson stated that there could be no ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas until the terrorist group “ceases to be a threat to Israel.”
The convention included a number of other high-profile speakers, including former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence announced during the event that he was exiting the 2024 presidential race.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who was briefly in the running to become speaker earlier this month, said that Congress would act to support Israel during its current struggle.
Furthermore, he cited the recent plans by the Biden administration to transfer $6 billion in assets to Iran in exchange for American hostages.
Iran is one of the principal supporters of Middle East terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. While the White House has suspended the existing plan, Scalise promised to end it for good.
The Biden administration stated that the funds would only be used on humanitarian purchases, such as food and medicine.
The Oct. 7 Hamas attacks were a major topic of the convention, including speeches from a number of prominent Jewish-Americans. The group granted the Defender of Freedom & Security Award to Israeli Rabbi Leo Dee, who lost his wife and daughters in a terrorist attack earlier this year.
🚨New: President Trump tells the Republican Jewish Coalition, “If you spill a drop of American blood, we will spill a gallon of yours.”pic.twitter.com/ob8ixu9lCW
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) October 28, 2023
