On Wednesday, under new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan resolution by a vote of 412-10 supporting Israel and condemning Hamas. Speaker Johnson’s first step as Speaker of the House to support Israel is the action Liberty Counsel Action advocates urged the House to take since the beginning of the war in Israel.
Speaker Johnson said they were “overdue” in taking action to support “our dear friend Israel.”
“We are going to show not only Israel, but the entire world that the barbarism of Hamas that we have all seen play out on our television screens is wretched and wrong, and we are going to stand for the good in the conflict,” Johnson said.
House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul sponsored the resolution to support Israel and called it “one of the darkest moments in the history of the state of Israel.”
The resolution reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and pledged to stand with Israel as it “defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.” It also called on all countries to condemn Hamas’ war against Israel and for Hamas to cease attacks and release all living hostages. The resolution went on to condemn Iran’s support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and urged sanctions against Iran to be fully enforced.
Speaker Johnson also made the following statement during his first speech after being elected speaker: “I want to tell all my colleagues here what I told the Republicans in that room last night; I don’t believe there are any coincidences in a matter like this. I believe that Scripture, the Bible, is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you, all of us, and I believe that God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment in this time. This is my belief. I believe that each one of us has a huge responsibility today to use the gifts that God has given us to serve the extraordinary people of this great country — and they deserve it — and to ensure that our republic remains standing as the great beacon of light and hope and freedom in a world that desperately needs it.”
It’s worth noting that Speaker Johnson is a man of prayer. He accepted the invitation to participate in Liberty Counsel Action’s recent Night of Prayer for Israel.
Also, the new speaker spearheaded a Call to Prayer for America with Jim and Rosemary Garlow earlier this year at the Museum of the Bible. The event was livestreamed, and scores of members of Congress and national leaders led in prayer for America.
Chairman of Liberty Counsel Action Mat Staver said, “It is time to show our unequivocal support of our ally Israel. This, as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s first act, affirms his depth as a leader. Now more than ever, we must affirm that the United States is a friend to Israel and show peace through strength leadership. I have no doubt in my mind Speaker Johnson is the man for the job. Speaker Johnson is a man of God and a champion of conservative values, and I am proud to consider him a friend. I couldn’t be more pleased that he will be leading the House. His leadership has already been very effective.”
