New US House Speaker Mike Johnson holds phone call with Israel's Netanyahu

The new US House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early on Saturday. “It was a privilege to speak this evening with my friend @netanyahu. The House of Representatives stands with Israel and I reaffirmed our strong support,” he said on X.  

It was a privilege to speak this evening with my friend @netanyahu. The House of Representatives stands with Israel and I reaffirmed our strong support. pic.twitter.com/pzoh2SuMBb

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 27, 2023

Earlier this week, Johnson called up a resolution supporting Israel in his first action as leader of the US House of Representatives.

“The first bill I’m going to bring to this floor in a little while will be in support of our dear friend Israel and we are overdue in getting that done,” Johnson said as he accepted the speakership.

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The House backed the resolution by 412 to 10, with six members voting “present,” reflecting traditional strong support in Congress for the Jewish state. The non-binding measure reaffirms US commitment to Israel and calls on Hamas to immediately cease attacks and release every hostage.

Meanwhile, US has backed Israel in rejecting the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) resolution on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that was passed with an overwhelming majority on Friday.

With inputs from Reuters