House Speaker Mike Johnson will receive an award from the Zionist Organization of America in recognition of his service and his strong defense of Israel.
The speaker, a Louisiana Republican, will receive the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Defender of Israel Award at the ZOA's Louis D. Brandeis "Speak Out for Israel" Dinner, being held Sunday at the Marriott Hotel in New York City.
The award comes after the speaker's strong speech at the pro-Israel rally on Nov. 14 in Washington's National Mall, where he insisted that calls for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas "are outrageous," and added that "Israel will cease their counteroffensive when Hamas ceases to be a threat to the Jewish state."
The ZOA, which was founded in 1897 and is the oldest pro-Israel organization, will also feature several other speakers and honorees at the dinner, including Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin; Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (speaking by video); Israeli Knesset member and former ZOA Israel Representative Dan Illouz (speaking by video); philanthropists Professor Gerald Shreiber, Melanie Shreiber; and Ed Lewis, Esq.; professor and former U.S. State Director of Policy & Planning Dr. Kiron Skinner; Rita Cosby; and more.
Before becoming speaker, Johnson was a member of the House Armed Services and Judiciary Committees. He also served as vice-chair of the House Republican Conference and chaired the Republican Study Committee.
He and his wife, Kelly, are the parents of four biological children and raised a Black teenager as their son, the ZOA notes.
Tickets are still available for the dinner, with registration available on the website for the event.