The new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas on Oct. 28 and explained the ways of God to them. As reported by major Israeli newspaper Haaretz, he declared: “Our members are inspired right now. People feel the sense that we have a new beginning. I believe that God has given us that opportunity. God is not done with America and God is not done with Israel…. We are going to stand like a rock with our friend and ally, Israel. I promise you that. We are resolved on behalf of Israel and when I say that, we share your outrage…. My first visit was to come and be with you, that’s not an accident.… The world’s oldest hatred has become mainstream, thanks to academia and the mainstream media, and fringe government figures. But we must not only call out these antisemitic attacks. We must act.”
Johnson touted his first act of legislation, a “pro-Israel” resolution which passed with more than 400 votes. Haaretz reported that “several progressives voted no or abstained due to its failure to recognize Palestinian victims.” But Johnson was less than Christian on the matter telling the Las Vegas crowd: “There were 16 members of Congress that did not vote for the resolution. Rashida Tlaib, AOC, Ilhan Omar, and others. Their votes underscore an alarming trend of anti-Semitism, globally and shamefully here in the United States.… House Republicans will work swiftly to pass legislation to provide Israel much needed resources in their fight against these barbarians. We will stand with Israel.”
Otherwise, the Speaker presented his bona fides, referring to his February 2020 visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (His tour guide, Rabbi Yehuda Glick, is a famous provocateur on Islam’s third holiest site. In the past, Israeli authorities have tried to prevent Glick from accessing the Temple Mount area, due to his history of provoking violence.) Johnson also showed disdain for the UNGA vote for a ceasefire, proclaiming: “There will be a ceasefire when Hamas ceases to be a threat to Israel.”
