The House has granted approval for a military aid package of approximately $14.5 billion to Israel. This decision reflects the U.S.’ strong response to the conflict with Hamas, but it also highlights a partisan approach by Speaker Mike Johnson, raising challenges for Democrats and President Joe Biden.

Notably, Johnson’s package deviated from the norm by specifying that the emergency aid must be offset by cuts in government spending elsewhere. This approach not only established the conservative leadership of the new House GOP but also divided Democrats and Republicans, who typically vote in a bipartisan manner. Biden has declared his intention to veto the bill, which received a 226-196 approval, with 12 Democrats joining most Republicans in a largely partisan vote.

Regarding the package, Johnson stated that it would provide Israel with the necessary assistance to defend itself, free hostages held by Hamas, and eradicate the militant group, all while ensuring responsible spending and reducing the size of the federal government.

Democrats argue that this approach would only delay aid to Israel. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has deemed the bill “stunningly unserious” and unlikely to pass in the Senate.

This legislation marks the first major congressional effort to support Israel during the war. However, it falls significantly short of Biden’s request for nearly $106 billion, which would also include support for Ukraine, efforts to counter China, and address border security with Mexico.

Additionally, this represents Johnson’s first major test as House Speaker as the Republican majority aims to resume work following the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Johnson plans to prioritize aid to Ukraine and U.S. border security next, separating them from Biden’s requests due to growing opposition among GOP lawmakers regarding the support for Kyiv.

The White House has warned that Johnson’s approach “fails to meet the urgency of the moment” and could set a dangerous precedent by requiring emergency funds to be obtained through cuts elsewhere.

While the amount allocated for Israel in the House bill aligns with Biden’s request, the White House criticizes the Republican plan for not including humanitarian assistance for Gaza, considering it a grave omission as the crisis continues to worsen. On Wednesday, Biden called for a ceasefire to allow for relief efforts.

In its statement, the White House stated, “This bill would break with the normal, bipartisan approach to providing emergency national security assistance,” highlighting the potential devastating implications for safety and alliances in the future.

Before the vote on Thursday, it was uncertain how many Democrats would align with Republicans. The White House directly appealed to lawmakers, specifically reaching out to Jewish Democrats to urge them to reject the bill.

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, Presidential Counselor Steve Ricchetti, and other senior staff members engaged with House Democrats, according to an individual familiar with the situation but granted anonymity to discuss it.

Nevertheless, for some lawmakers, particularly Democrats who support Israel, it was a difficult decision as they would need to explain the trade-off to their constituents. Various groups, including the influential AIPAC lobby, encouraged passage of the bill. Ultimately, only two Republicans opposed the bill.

The bill’s funding is accomplished by attaching provisions that would cut billions from the IRS, which Democrats approved and Biden previously signed into law to combat tax evasion. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this approach would result in a net cost of $12.5 billion due to lost tax revenue, in addition to the aid package’s cost. Therefore, the combined cost totals over $26 billion.

Republicans dispute this assessment, but the Congressional Budget Office is commonly regarded as a trusted source of evaluation.

Proponents argue that the package will support Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, procure advanced weaponry, assist with military needs, and aid in the protection and evacuation of U.S. citizens. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the overall package for Israel amounts to roughly $14.3 billion.

During the floor debate, Democrats pleaded with Republicans to reinstate the humanitarian aid that Biden initially requested, expressing concerns about the increasing politicization of typically bipartisan support for Israel.

Representative Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, stated, “Republicans are leveraging the excruciating pain of an international crisis to help rich people who cheat on their taxes and big corporations who regularly dodge their taxes.”

Representative Dan Goldman of New York shared a personal experience of hiding in a stairwell with his family during a visit to Israel while rockets were fired, describing it as the most horrific attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Despite this, Goldman opposed the Republican-led bill as a “shameful effort” to exploit the situation for political gain.

The Republicans have accused Democrats who question Israel’s tactics in the war of being antisemitic. There was an attempt to censure Palestinian-American lawmaker Representative Rashida Tlaib, which ultimately failed.

Representative Andrew Clyde argued that he was glad humanitarian aid was absent, as he believed it could end up in the hands of Hamas.

In the Democratic-controlled Senate, Schumer made it clear that the House bill would be rejected. Instead, the Senate will work on its own bipartisan emergency aid package that includes funding for Israel and Ukraine, as well as humanitarian assistance for Gaza and efforts to confront China.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell aims to support his GOP allies in the House while also striving to align the aid package more closely with Biden’s broader request, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these issues and the importance of U.S. involvement.

McConnell stressed that aid for Ukraine was necessary to strengthen a Western ally against Russia and stated, “This is not charity.”

In other news on Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed a Republican-led nonbinding resolution that focused on activism related to the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses. The resolution condemns support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education.

___

Associated Press writers Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri, Mary Clare Jalonick, and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.