Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, according to a person familiar with the matter. Congressional leaders last week formally invited Netanyahu to come speak, delivering the most recent show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza. But the date of the speech had been in flux. It has now been set for July 24, according to the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss private planning.
Quick Read
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress on July 24, according to a source familiar with the matter
- Congressional leaders extended the invitation to Netanyahu last week to show support for Israel amid its military actions against Hamas in Gaza
- The speech date has now been confirmed for July 24, despite previous uncertainty
- The invitation was signed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
- Netanyahu’s appearance is expected to be contentious, with potential protests from lawmakers and pro-Palestinian activists
- Some Democratic lawmakers critical of Netanyahu’s strategy, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, have indicated they will not attend, with Sanders labeling Netanyahu a “war criminal”
- The visit comes amid strained relations between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu, particularly over Biden’s criticism of Israel’s handling of the war and humanitarian issues in Gaza
- Biden has proposed an agreement to end the fighting in Gaza, putting pressure on Netanyahu, who has dismissed the idea of a permanent cease-fire without certain conditions being met
- House Speaker Johnson initially suggested the invitation, and Schumer, despite his recent criticism of Netanyahu, agreed to the invitation, emphasizing the strong U.S.-Israel relationship
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel’s Netanyahu set to address the US Congress on July 24
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Congressional leaders last week formally invited Netanyahu to come speak, delivering the most recent show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza. But the date of the speech had been in flux. It has now been set for July 24, according to the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss private planning.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, signed the letter extending the invitation to Netanyahu. They said the offer was intended to “highlight America’s solidarity with Israel.”
Netanyahu’s appearance before a growingly divided Congress is sure to be contentious and met with plenty of protests both inside the Capitol from lawmakers and outside by pro-Palestinian protesters. And it will put on stark display the growing election-year divisions among Democrats over the prime minister’s prosecution of the monthslong war against Hamas.
Democratic lawmakers most critical of Netanyahu’s strategy are expected to be no-shows for the address. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, said: “Netanyahu is a war criminal. I certainly will not attend.”
Netanyahu’s visit to the Capitol also comes as the relationship between President Joe Biden and the leader of the Jewish state has frayed in recent months. Biden has privately and publicly criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war and criticized the Israeli government for not letting more humanitarian into Gaza.
Late last week, Biden announced a proposed agreement to end the fighting in Gaza, putting growing pressure on Netanyahu to accept the deal. Many Israelis have been urging him to embrace the terms, but his far-right allies have threatened to leave his coalition government if he does.
Netanyahu called a permanent cease-fire in Gaza a “nonstarter” until long-standing conditions for ending the war are met, appearing to undermine the proposal that Biden described as an Israeli one.
Johnson first suggested inviting the Israeli leader, saying it would be “a great honor of mine” to invite him. His move came soon after Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., delivered a stinging rebuke of Netanyahu in a lengthy speech on the Senate floor. Schumer said in the speech that Netanyahu had “lost his way” amid the Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza.
Even so, Schumer had said he would join in the invitation because “our relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends any one prime minister or president.”
