After electing a new leader, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting Israel in its war against the radical Islamic group Hamas. The text, entitled “Support Israel in its defense against the barbaric war of Hamas and other terrorists”, was approved on Wednesday (local time) with 412 votes in favor and 10 against. The House of Congress had already elected Republican Mike Johnson as its president.
“We all know the world is in crisis – but a strong America is good for the whole world,” the newly elected Johnson told MPs. The USA is “a beacon of freedom”.
US President Joe Biden congratulated the 51-year-old on his election and assured him of his willingness to work together. At the same time, Biden called on Congress to quickly approve the new aid he had requested for Israel and Ukraine, worth more than 75 billion dollars (around 71 billion euros). The president also warned that a budget freeze approaching in mid-November must be avoided.
The election of the new president was preceded by a chaotic trench war between Republicans, which completely paralyzed the House of Representatives for around three weeks, in the midst of major international crises. The previous Republican president, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted as the first “speaker” in US history on October 3rd by a revolt by right-wing radicals in his own ranks.
In the following weeks, due to infighting among Republicans, the group’s three nominated candidates, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan and Tom Emmer, failed one after the other. Because the House of Representatives cannot pass laws without a president, the House of Congress was unable to act during this period.
McCarthy’s successor, Johnson, has little public profile and little experience in political leadership. The opponent of abortion and gay marriage has been in the House of Congress since 2017. After former President Donald Trump lost the presidential election at the end of 2020, he was one of the deputies who tried to take legal action against the election results. Even after the storming of the Capitol by radical Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, he and many party colleagues voted against recognizing Biden’s electoral victory.