A package aimed at giving $17.6 billion to Israel failed to pass the House of Representatives on February 6. The bill, seen as a political ploy by many Democrats and by President Biden, had been facing a veto threat from the White House, which is pushing for Congress to consider Israel aid as part of a larger $118 billion supplemental security package. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) unveiled the standalone Israel bill, known as the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, over the weekend, which was introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-California).
The House voted 250-180 in favor, though it needed a two-thirds majority to pass under a fast-tracked legislative process known as suspension of the rules. Many Democrats argued that the bill was politicized because a bipartisan group of Senators already agreed to a separate package to Israel as well as the southern border and Ukraine.
“Now more than ever, we must stand firm with Israel,” House Appropriations Committee chair Kay Granger (R-Texas), argued in a floor speech leading up to the vote. “The bill [would] send a strong message that the United States supports our great ally.”
“We are prepared to support any serious, bipartisan effort in connection with the special relationship between the United States and Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East,” wrote Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass), and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA). “Unfortunately, the standalone legislation introduced by House Republicans over the weekend, at the 11th hour without notice or consultation, is not being offered in good faith.”
Also on February 6, on Capitol Hill, Speaker Johnson hosted Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, Michael Herzog, Israel’s Ambassador to the US, and family members being held captive by Hamas.
“Israel is America’s closest ally and best friend in the Middle East, and when you threaten Israel, you threaten freedom itself,” Johnson said to reporters. “History beckons us to act boldly and decisively to defend Israel and our own citizens.”
Benaya Cherlow is a 27-year-old Israeli from Efrat who has worked as a Fellow with Congressman Brad Schneider’s (D-IL) office for some months. After Hamas’s terror assault on October 7, Cherlow spent 105 days back with his Israeli reserve unit. Cherlow returned to Washington in late January, and he routinely briefs lawmakers on the war-plagued dangers in Gaza and Lebanon.
“I’m in Unit 8112 in the Whiskey Company, and [the Hamas’ terror assault on] October 7 caught me in an absolute shock – as [it did for] all Israelis,” Cherlow tells the Queens Jewish Link. “All my brothers and my friends had already been called up to the reserves, so it was clear to me that I [would have to go], as well. At first it was not so clear where this war was going and how long it would take. I started the war in Lebanon in a very ‘hot’ sector with many clashes with Hezbollah. Israel does not stand alone against Hamas and Hezbollah. We also stand for the US and others. If not Israel, the West is next. There should be a partnership of the good side against the Iranian axis.”
Cherlow meets frequently with lobbyists and Jewish groups like EMET, AIPAC, AJC, and AIC all throughout Greater Washington. “I met with over 15 members of Congress last week, and I mainly talked with them about stopping funding to UNRWA, not agreeing to the ceasefire until Hamas is destroyed, and a number of steps that the Palestinian Authority must take as reform before reaching any political agreement,” he continues. “I see myself continuing in Washington with the network of connections I have built and influencing Congressmen and Congresswomen to support Israel.”
Cherlow hopes to stay through November’s Presidential Election.
By Jared Feldschreber
