CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: US Congressional Leaders from Both Parties Formally Invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Address Joint Session of Congress
CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: US Congressional Leaders from Both Parties Formally Invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Address Joint Session of Congress
US Congressional leaders from both parties have formally invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, demonstrating wartime solidarity for longtime ally Israel amid growing political tensions over the war with Hamas in Gaza.
The letter was signed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (Democrat), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican).
In the letter, House leaders stated that the invitation was issued to “highlight America’s solidarity with Israel.”
The speech is expected to be delivered “as soon as the next eight weeks or shortly after August recess,” according to a source familiar with the situation.
According to The Hill, the invitation, which was first suggested by Johnson, was granted after weeks of delay due to Schumer’s statement on the Senate floor in March asking for early elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu.
Schumer eventually agreed, saying he was willing to cooperate in a Netanyahu address as long as it was done in a bipartisan manner.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Netanyahu has been speaking with Republican Congressional leaders in recent weeks about a possible joint session address, seeing it as an opportunity to make Israel’s case on the global stage and is less concerned about some of the political fallout within the United States.
Republicans, especially probable GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, have been eager to show their support for Netanyahu and highlight Democratic divisions over Israel.
Nearly 60 Democrats boycotted Netanyahu’s final joint session address in 2015, which was organized by Republican congressional leaders behind the back of then-President Barack Obama in order for the Israeli prime minister to lobby against the nuclear deal that Washington eventually signed with Iran later that year.
A considerably bigger number of Democrats are likely to boycott a Netanyahu address, since the war in Gaza has grown increasingly unpopular with progressives.
The battle precipitated by Hamas’ atrocities on Oct. 7 has also strained Netanyahu’s relationship with US President Joe Biden, who threatened Israel in May for the first time to withhold arms if it launched a large offensive in Rafah’s civilian areas.
While Netanyahu has confirmed the invitation from Congress, he has yet to get one from the White House, and traveling to Washington without one would only further highlight the divides.
Even before Oct. 7, Netanyahu had not been invited to the White House since his return to office in late 2022, as he quickly drew Biden’s ire for his efforts to drastically overhaul Israel’s judiciary and actions seen as undermining the US administration’s efforts to preserve prospects for a two-state solution.
Biden visited Israel shortly after the Hamas-led attack, marking the first time a US president has visited the Jewish state during a war.
Friday’s invitation came only minutes after Biden delivered a speech outlining the latest Israeli offering for a hostage deal and ceasefire to end the war, and urging Hamas to accept the offer.
A congressional aide told The Times of Israel that Schumer’s staff worked with the White House on the matter.
If he goes ahead with the speech, Netanyahu will become the first foreign leader to address joint sessions of Congress 4 times.
He is currently tied for 3rd with Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime prime minister.
NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
The Times of Israel
US Congressional Leaders from Both Parties INVITE NETANYAHU TO ADDRESS JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS… | Christian Breaking News!