New U.S. speaker rallies support for Israel
Mike Johnson says Congress’ support for America’s greatest ally is overdue
Daily TribuneMike Johnson says Congress’ support for America’s greatest ally is overdue
TOM BRENNER/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE NEWLY elected United States House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks after his election at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on 25 October 2023.
The United States House of Representatives is back in business with the newly-elected Republican speaker, Mike Johnson, introducing a resolution supporting Israel in its war with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
The resolution passed with support from all but nine Democrats and just one Republican dissenter. The first successful act of Johnson signals a stable leadership despite being the least experienced speaker in the post Civil War era, having never chaired a committee or held a senior leadership role.
"We all know that the world is in turmoil — but a strong America is good for the entire world," Johnson told lawmakers after his election on Wednesday that ended the paralysis of Congress.
Biden congratulated the new speaker and vowed to work with him, adding that the US now needed "to move swiftly to address our national security needs and to avoid a shutdown."
Ahead of the filing of the Israel resolution, the Louisiana congressman said in his acceptance speech that the bill is overdue as America's "greatest ally in the Middle East is under attack."
The little-known ally of Donald Trump who spearheaded legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election won the unanimous support of his party to replace Kevin McCarthy who was ousted in a right-wing coup on 3 October.
