House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries implored his Republican counterparts to “get their act together” amid the speaker impasse and the war in Israel.
Jeffries (D-NY) lamented the “very heartbreaking” and “tragic situation,” while hinting that gridlock in Congress could hamper the U.S. response.
“I’m hopeful that my Republican colleagues will get their act together and can settle on a speaker who can receive 217 votes,” Jeffries told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“And that we can move forward to get the American people’s business done both in terms of our domestic needs,” Jeffries continued, “as well as our national security considerations in terms of being there for Israel, being there for the Ukrainian People.”
Last Tuesday, a group of eight Republicans led by firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) joined a unified bloc of Democrats to unseat former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a 216-210 vote.
With McCarthy gone, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) took over as Speaker Pro Tempore, but the extent of his powers to bring bills to the floor remains in question.
Hakeem Jeffries is imploring House Republicans to “get their act together” in the speakers’ civil war.REUTERS
Never before in American history had a Speaker of the House been ousted by an eviction motion. McCarthy has bowed out of consideration to the gavel.
Half a world away on Saturday, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unleashed a widespread surprise attack on Israel just one day after marking 50 years since the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War.
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Israel’s cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, marking the nation’s first formally declared war since 1973.
Jeffries affirmed his support for Israel. He visited the Jewish state in April.
“The United States will continue to firmly support Israel. America’s bond with Israel is unbreakable and unbreakable. “We have strongly supported Israel for its first 75 years and we will strongly support it for the next 75 years and beyond,” she said.
“There will probably be a need for some additional allocations with respect to Iron Dome or David’s Arrow, David’s Sling, some of Israel’s defense systems that may need to be reinforced given the likelihood of a prolonged engagement,” he added. .
600 Israelis have been killed since the war against Hamas began on Saturday. AFP via Getty Images Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday became the first speaker of the House of Representatives to be removed by an eviction motion. AFP via Getty Images
As the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, Jeffries is a member of the so-called Gang of Eight: members of Congress who are entitled to receive high-level classified intelligence briefings from the administration.
He was informed about the situation in Israel, but has not yet received information from the Gang of Eight.
“I anticipate that we will have the opportunity to have a secure briefing at some point next week. But our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad,” she stressed.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: how we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip more than three decades after seizing the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins the Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fire rockets at the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches largest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 700 Israelis have been killed, more than 2,150 wounded and 100 taken hostage and the death toll is expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking women hostage and parading them down the street in gruesome videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised that Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report that at least 300 Palestinians have been killed and 2,200 wounded.
House Republicans are scheduled to hold a presidential candidate forum on Tuesday, followed by a vote on Wednesday.
The two leading contenders are Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.).
Jeffries declined to comment on either Republican, but reiterated his bid in an op-ed last week to establish a “bipartisan path forward.”
“We have made it clear as Democrats that we are ready, willing and able to find common ground to enter a bipartisan path so that we can govern the House in an enlightened manner that ensures that bipartisan priorities that have significant support from Democrats and Republicans in the House can receive an up or down vote,” he said.
Over the “last day,” Jeffries has not corresponded with his Republican counterparts in leadership about the status of the presidency, but emphasized that there are “ongoing discussions” with other House Republicans and Democrats.
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