The recent attacks against Israel have come at a time of division across Israeli society, but Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) says the moment could ultimately bring the Israeli people together.
“Crisis oftentimes has a way of bringing people together. Certainly in Israel, this crisis is with a lot of contention and division within that country,” Mr. Costa told NTD’s “Capitol Report” on Wednesday.
Israel has undergone five elections in the span of four years, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu coming in and out of power, while also facing corruption allegations. Mr. Netanyahu once again returned to power in December, after Israel’s November 2022 elections.
On Wednesday, amid the ongoing fighting between Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian terrorists, Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party reached an agreement with Israel’s National Unity party to form an emergency unity government.
“I think that’s a real strong note of strength that Israel’s coming together with their divisions,” Mr. Costa said.
Like the Israeli government, Mr. Costa said Democrats and Republicans also have an opportunity to show bipartisanship.
“Maybe in the same fashion, the divisions we have here in this country, this crisis gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves that what we share in common is democracies,” Mr. Costa said. “I believe that we’re going to see strong support from the Congress.”
The U.S. Congress is currently divided between a Democrat-controlled Senate and a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The House Republican conference also remains divided following the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and the efforts to find a lasting replacement.
In a Tuesday White House address on the Israel attacks, President Joe Biden announced he would soon ask Congress “to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners.” Though the specifics of these U.S. funding actions are still unclear, Mr. Costa predicted the requests will receive “overwhelming bipartisan support.”
Some Republicans have raised objections to other recent foreign aid requests, such as new rounds of defense spending for Ukraine. On Sept. 28, 117 House Republicans voted against a $300 million aid package for Ukraine, while 101 House Republicans joined 210 House Democrats to support the aid spending.
Ahead of his motion to oust Mr. McCarthy from the speakership, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) raised allegations that Mr. McCarthy struck a secret side deal with Democrats to pass a new Ukraine spending package.
While many House Republicans have affirmed their support for Israel, it remains to be seen if Congress will link aid for Ukraine and Israel together and how lawmakers will respond.
US Carrier ‘Warmed the Heart of Every Israeli’
Though Israel may see additional measures of U.S. support, the Biden administration has already taken some steps to position new U.S. military assets in the region.
The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to reposition to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, placing the carrier’s airwing and supporting guided missile cruisers and destroyers closer to Israel’s shoreline. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also ordered the U.S. Air Force to deploy additional F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons to bases in the region.
“One must mention the great armada that is reaching our shores, the American aircraft carrier and the rest of the fleet, which by the way, warmed the heart of every Israeli here,” retired Israeli Air Force Col. Uri Dromi told “Capitol Report” on Wednesday.
Mr. Dromi, who served in the Air Force until 2003 and founded the Jerusalem Press Club, said the Israeli people are “really showing their strengths and resolution, and people are coming together.” Mr. Dromi also expressed hope at the news that the Likud and National Unity parties had formed an emergency governing majority.
“There’s a lot of shows of solidarity, camaraderie. The soldiers are there, you know, near the Gaza Strip, ready to go to action,” Mr. Dromi said. “So there is—after the first few days of confusion, humiliation, shock if you will—we’re coming back together and we’re ready to do business.”
The retired Israeli Air Force colonel said the Israeli military remains wary after the Oct. 7 attacks from Gaza, but predicted the Israeli military has the resources to carry out the retaliatory strikes in Gaza and respond to potential attacks from the north carried out by Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon.
“We’re strong. We suffered a blow but we are … in business,” Mr. Dromi said. “I think Hamas miscalculated big time and now they’re bringing on their own people devastation, and it will not stop until Hamas is really stripped of its ability to do this to Israel again.”
Israeli military forces have conducted extensive strikes throughout Gaza as part of what they’ve dubbed “Operation Swords of Iron.” Israeli forces have placed additional pressure on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the flow of water and electricity to the city.
As of Wednesday, Gaza’s health ministry placed preliminary casualty assessments at 1,055 people killed and more than 5,000 wounded as a result of Israeli strikes on Gaza. The United Nations has also placed the number of Gaza residents displaced by the Israeli strikes at around 263,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Israeli government estimates at least 1,200 Israelis have died and more than 2,700 have been wounded since Hamas launched its attacks on Oct. 7. Tourists from several other nations have been wounded and killed in the Hamas attacks, including at least 22 Americans.
