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This week brings difficult news, but also the potential for hope on the
horizon. As things often do, it'll all boil down to the strength of
character of a few individuals.

**Biden's Betrayal**

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council advanced a resolution
that called for an immediate cease-fire during the Islamic holy month of
Ramadan which would lead to a permanent cease-fire. The resolution
mentioned the 130 hostages as an afterthought, disconnected from the
ceasefire demands. Furthermore the authors did not bother condemning
Hamas or even mentioning the 10/7 Massacre.

The United States could have vetoed this resolution, as did China and
Russia last week, when the U.S. put forward its own, imperfect but not
nearly as despicable, resolution. But that's not what President Biden
chose to do. He directed his UN ambassador to abstain from the vote,
allowing it to pass, and placing geopolitical pressure on Israel while
her sons and daughters are enduring atrocities and dying in Gaza.

Each time the United States capitulates to freedom's adversaries,
those evil entities - Hamas, Iran, and their allies in Moscow and
Beijing - are emboldened and empowered. The predictable consequence of
such a misguided policy is more bloodshed. It's no wonder that Hamas
itself issued a statement welcoming the resolution.

CUFI founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee put it best in a statement
released yesterday on the heels of Biden's (latest) betrayal,
"Today's abstention at the UN is an abomination-this is not how
one treats an ally, and it is not reflective of the American people's
attitude toward Israel or this war. The Biden administration's
acquiescence to international antisemitism will not prevent Israel from
defeating Hamas or bringing her hostages home."

**A Diplomatic Rift**

Speaking of predictable consequences, as a result of the
precedent-setting decision to allow a resolution to move forward that
bolsters Hamas, Israel recalled a high-level delegation set to meet with
their counterparts in Washington, signaling a very significant
diplomatic rift between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Even before the betrayal at the UN, Vice President Kamala Harris had
already made headlines by declaring that if Israel enters Rafah -
Hamas's last stronghold in Gaza, where they are keeping their leaders
and Israel's hostages - there will be "consequences."

On the one hand, the Biden administration isn't known for following
through on its threats, at least when it comes to adversaries. On the
other, Israel is an ally. And to this point, the Biden administration
has not done the most damaging thing they could do to the Jewish state:
cutoff the supply of ammunition.

Israel is caught in a most difficult position: They cannot allow their
citizens to be once again in Hamas's crosshairs. Likewise, they cannot
allow Hezbollah to think that if one rapes and murders their way through
part of Israel, those same barbarians will live to fight another day.
Israel must destroy Hamas if the Jewish state is to survive.

At the same time, however, Israel, like every other country on earth,
relies on allies for support. The U.S. is the world's only superpower
and Israel's closest ally, and yet, the President of the United States
has effectively demanded Israel not defeat Hamas and his Vice President
has threatened "consequences" if Israel does what everyone knows
they must.

**For Such a Time as This **

All of the above - the calls for a cease-fire, the threats should Israel
enter Rafah - amounts to the same end: Hamas survives, the hostages may
not. That outcome is unacceptable for Israel and is unacceptable to the
American people.

America's Founders set up our government with separate and equal
branches for when one of those branches goes rogue. In fact, executive
overreach was perhaps the most concerning yet foreseeable challenge the
Founders addressed.

Congress exists, above all else, for these moments. Our Constitution
clearly vests the power of the purse with our elected officials in the
House and Senate.  And for believers, many of us hold that those
elected to positions of power - perhaps especially those elevated
through unprecedented events - are indeed burdened with being the
vessels for that which is righteous. But all must make a choice. And
sadly, some have chosen a very dark path.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has submitted a motion to oust
Johnson (just as was done to former Speaker McCarthy) should the
emergency supplemental package be brought to the floor. And Greene is
not alone. Other members of the House Freedom Caucus such as Rep. Chip
Roy (R-TX) have indicated they may join Greene's effort. They are
always careful to say "Ukraine" aid rather than Israel, but it's
all the same legislative package, and they know it.

Nonetheless, to his credit, Speaker Johnson seems to agree that he has
been blessed and burdened with his position for such a time as this.
Despite the sword of Damocles Greene and her ilk seek to hold over
Johnson's head, several members of Congress, including House Foreign
Affairs Committee Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently assured
journalists that the Speaker will bring a vote on aid to Israel to the
floor in approximately two weeks when Congress returns from their Easter
recess.

This is reason for cautious optimism, but the details matter. There are
no secrets about what a politically popular, bipartisan, and impactful
aid package must and cannot include. If Speaker Johnson is to hold a
meaningful vote on meaningful legislation which can be signed into law,
it will have to be within those known guardrails. And that is exactly
the message we'll be delivering to our leaders on your behalf in the
coming days.

Sincerely,

The CUFI Action Fund Team

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