---
[ IMPORTANT READS ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads)
# Biden Complicates Congress’ Calculus On Israel Aid
April 04 2024
Written by Andrew Solender.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
GUEST WORDS - The Biden administration's [embrace of an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza](https://www.axios.com/2024/04/04/biden-ceasefire-gaza-netanyahu-call) and threat of conditions for aid to Israel could shake up the foreign aid vote math on Capitol Hill.
Why it matters: House Speaker [Mike Johnson](https://www.axios.com/2024/04/04/mike-johnson-ukraine-aid-bill-israel) (R-La.) is already trying to perform a tenuous balancing act to cobble together the votes for aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
- But Democrats have grown increasingly uneasy with unconditional aid to Israel in recent months as the casualty count in Gaza has risen.
Driving the news: In a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Biden said an "immediate ceasefire" is needed to "protect innocent civilians," Axios' Barak Ravid reported.
- Biden also stressed that Israel needs to lay out "concrete and measurable steps" for protecting aid workers and addressing the humanitarian crisis — a demand amplified by the recent deaths of seven [World Central Kitchen](https://www.axios.com/2024/04/02/world-central-kitchen-strike-gaza-jose-andres)workers.
- Biden "made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action on these steps," the White House said.
The latest: Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) a Jewish progressive who signed onto [Democrats' discharge petition](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/12/house-democrats-discharge-petition-israel-ukraine) to force a vote on a $95 billion Senate foreign aid bill, lamented in an interview on Thursday that the bill includes "the same old money to Israel."
- "I don't see that as something that can be included in that package," she told Axios. "I'm not against the defensive weapons ... but, no, I think we should not be contributing more to this destruction of life."
- Schakowsky added feels "very strongly" about conditioning aid to Israel and "I think a lot of people … feel that way."
- Other progressives voiced similar sentiments. "Biden knows the United States has a serious role to play in order for major course correcting to take place," Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said in a statement.
Zoom in: Schakowsky and Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) are circulating a [draft letter](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24532254-4524_draft-20-letter-re-wck-strike-and-arms-transfers) addressed to Biden calling to halt weapons transfers to Israel in response to the World Central Kitchen strike.
- "In light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers," they wrote.
The other side: Pro-Israel lawmakers in both parties hit back at Biden's comments.
- Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). said he supports minimizing casualties in Gaza and sending aid to Palestinians, but "any attempt to fundamentally undermine the U.S.-Israel relationship will only serve to benefit Hamas."
- Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called Biden's remarks "terrible," telling Axios, "Israel has every right to destroy Hamas after the 7 Oct massacre. If someone did that to us, like 9/11, we'd do everything to destroy the threat."
Between the lines: Asked if Biden's comments to Netanyahu make it harder to pass an aid package, a House Republican told Axios, "It does."
- "His equivocation is more about Democratic politics than good foreign policy," the lawmaker added.
Yes, but: Not every pro-Israel member is pushing back. "I appreciate the president's frustration with Prime Minister Netanyahu," said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), who plans to advocate for Israel aid on the Hill next week.
- Schneider argued Israel can both fight Hamas and protect civilians and "it's right that the United States expect, indeed demand, that of Israel."
- He added lawmakers were "shocked" by the World Central Kitchen incident, which, he said, "draws on a lot of emotions."
What to watch: Johnson has signaled the House will [take up aid to Israel and Ukraine](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/22/house-april-vote-ukraine-and-israel-aid) when it returns from its Easter recess next week.
- He will have an enormous lift in getting the two-thirds majority he needs to pass any package, with a group of House Democrats now demanding an additional $9 billion in humanitarian aid to various global hot spots.
The bottom line: "I mean, what other leverage does the United States have? To scold? Bibi doesn't give a damn about scolding," Schakowsky said of U.S. aid to Israel.
- "That's it, really. That's all we have."
*(Andrew Solender is a congressional reporter at [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2024/04/04/ceasefire-israel-biden-gaza-aid-money) where this article was first published.)*
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Message
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
### [Prosecutor, Democrat, City Attorney? McKinney Makes His Case to Los Angeles Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
ELECTION 2026 - The race for LA City Attorney has been laced with political accusations and allegations that when close…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
LA WATCHDOG - My recommendations are influenced by the need for truly balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, long ter…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
### [The Fools’ Blame Game](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
THE VIEW FROM HERE - Angelenos do not use elections to plot a wiser course of conduct for Los Angeles, but rather they…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
### [California Film Tax Credits Aren’t Enough. The Guilds Need to Change Too.](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
LONNIE’S VIEW - California used to be the center of the movie and television universe. If you wanted to make movies, yo…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an…
---
## [ IMPORTANT READS ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33661-living-in-los-angeles-with-education-debt-what-financial-priorities-matter)### [Living in Los Angeles With Education Debt: What Financial Priorities Matter?](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33661-living-in-los-angeles-with-education-debt-what-financial-priorities-matter)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33633-what-a-vaginal-microbiome-test-reveals-about-your-overall-health)### [What a Vaginal Microbiome Test Reveals About Your Overall Health](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33633-what-a-vaginal-microbiome-test-reveals-about-your-overall-health)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33563-tenant-lawsuits-offer-rare-glimpse-into-an-l-a-landlords-cash-for-keys-operation)### [Tenant Lawsuits Offer Rare Glimpse Into an L.A. Landlord’s ‘Cash for Keys’ Operation](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33563-tenant-lawsuits-offer-rare-glimpse-into-an-l-a-landlords-cash-for-keys-operation)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33571-stop-comparing-october-7-to-the-holocaust)### [Stop Comparing October 7 to the Holocaust](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33571-stop-comparing-october-7-to-the-holocaust)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33521-making-the-case-against-the-times)### [Making The Case Against the Times](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/important-reads/33521-making-the-case-against-the-times)