Title: Push for $17.6 Billion Israel Aid Package Faces Opposition, Uncertain Fate in House

In a political standoff on Tuesday, Speaker Mike Johnson's efforts to pass a standalone $17.6 billion aid package for Israel teetered on the edge of collapse. Multiple sources within the Republican party revealed that opposition was mounting from both Republicans and Democratic leaders.

Complications arose when members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus resisted the bill, forcing Johnson to present it under a procedure that requires a two-thirds majority approval in the House. This necessitates garnering support from a significant number of Democrats as well.

During a closed caucus meeting, House Democratic leadership vehemently argued against backing the standalone aid package for Israel. Numerous Democrats exiting the meeting confirmed their intention to vote against the bill. Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat in the House Homeland Security Committee, went so far as to label the effort "a trap."

Despite growing doubts about securing sufficient support, top Republicans remain determined to hold the vote on Tuesday evening. Their plan is to use this vote as an opportunity to put pressure on Democrats regarding the issue of Israel. Notably, this vote will take place immediately after a vote on whether to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a vote that Republicans expect to be tightly contested due to their narrow majority.

Adding to the uncertainty, President Joe Biden has issued a veto threat against the standalone aid bill for Israel. The President argues that it should be included as part of a larger national security package. Currently, aid to Israel is one component of a bipartisan Senate legislation that encompasses aid to Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as immigration and border-related policies and funding. However, this larger bill also faces potential defeat due to opposition from GOP members.

Representative Johnson has criticized Senate lawmakers for excluding House Republicans from the negotiations over the border security deal, which is intended to be paired with aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. In a strongly worded "Dear Colleague" letter to legislators, Johnson expressed his concern that the House's priorities were being disregarded and emphasized the need for the House to have a say in these matters.

As the momentous vote approaches, the fate of the standalone Israel aid package hangs in the balance. The political maneuvering and divisions on both sides of the aisle highlight the challenges of navigating a complex web of bipartisan negotiations in a closely divided Congress.