By Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona and Haley Talbot | CNNThe House on Tuesday failed to pass a standalone package for $17.6 billion in Israel aid amid opposition from both Republicans and Democratic leaders. Because of resistance among members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, House Speaker Mike Johnson had been forced to bring up the bill under a procedure that requires two-thirds majority of the House to approve it. Inside a closed caucus meeting Tuesday morning, House Democratic leadership made a forceful case against supporting the standalone Israel aid package to members. The House Homeland Security Committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, called the effort “a trap.”President Joe Biden has also issued a veto threat against the standalone Israel aid bill, citing a desire to include it as part of a larger national security package. But that bill also appears on the brink of defeat amid GOP opposition, and Johnson has said House Republicans have been excluded from those talks prompting the standalone bill.

Source: CNN February 07, 2024 01:29 UTC