The measure posed a dilemma for many pro-Israel Democrats. They wanted to support Israel during a time of crisis but were reluctant to back a bill that excluded aid for Ukraine and humanitarian assistance and also targeted their domestic policy priorities. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader from New York, privately urged Democrats to oppose the bill.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz from Florida expressed frustration on social media, stating that the legislation was designed to be used against Democrats in future political mailers. Despite this, he declared his support for the bill but predicted it would not pass in the Senate.

“I will support Israel,” he wrote.

Several pro-Israel Democrats objected to the legislation as it marked the first instance of Congress imposing conditions on emergency aid. Rep. Brad Schneider from Illinois remarked that he never imagined he would be asked to vote for a bill that cynically linked aid to Israel with the partisan demands of one party.

“I also never thought that a day would come that I would be asked to consider voting against an aid package for Israel, our most important ally in the Middle East, and maybe in the world,” said Mr. Schneider.

He continued, “But I cannot support the terribly flawed, weak and dangerous bill Speaker Johnson and the Republicans have on the floor today.”

The majority of funding in the GOP measure aims to assist Israel in replenishing and strengthening its weapons systems, including $4 billion for the Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems. It also includes $200 million for the protection and evacuation of U.S. personnel. However, it does not include humanitarian aid for Gaza, which President Biden has requested and many Democrats deem essential.

“It provides Israel with the aid it needs to defend itself, free its hostages, and eradicate Hamas, which is a mission that must be accomplished,” stated Mr. Johnson during a news conference. “All of this while we also work to ensure responsible spending and reduce the size of the federal government to pay for that commitment to our friend and ally.”

Mr. Johnson clarified that he did not include spending cuts “for political purposes” but rather because House Republicans aimed to prioritize fiscal responsibility.

On Wednesday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office stated that the spending cuts outlined in the bill would actually increase the deficit by $12.5 billion over the next decade due to reduced revenue collections.

Mr. Johnson’s approach to the Israel legislation appears to aim at maintaining unity within his conference, which is deeply divided on issues regarding foreign war funding, especially in the early stages of his speakership. His predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, was ousted after passing two bills—one to prevent the nation’s first debt default and another to avert a government shutdown—without majority support from House Republicans.