Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, the two top Republicans in Congress announced Thursday night.
Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, said in a statement that the speech would offer Netanyahu the opportunity to “share the Israeli government’s vision for defending its democracy, combating terrorism and establish a fair system.” and lasting peace in the region.”
But in a separate statement hinting at deep political divisions over Netanyahu and Israel’s war in Gaza, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said he harbored “clear and deep disagreements with the prime minister, who I have expressed both privately and publicly and will continue to do so.” He said he had nevertheless joined the call for Netanyahu to address Congress because “the United States’ relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or person.” a prime minister.”
Earlier this year, Schumer called for Netanyahu to resign and for Israel to hold new elections.
The bipartisan invitation to Netanyahu, issued last month by the four top congressional leaders with no date attached, masked a tense behind-the-scenes debate over his reception. The need for separate statements from the leaders of the two parties explaining their different reasons for extending the invitation underscored those tensions.
Some progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have already vowed to boycott the speech, calling Netanyahu a “war criminal” for his tactics in the war against Hamas, which has killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza and sparked a disaster. humanitarian.
Republicans, by contrast, are eager to closely embrace Netanyahu and unequivocally endorse his policies. Johnson has been the driving force behind the invitation.
“I am very moved to have the privilege of representing Israel before both houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us to the representatives of the American people and the entire world,” Netanyahu said. in a statement accepting the invitation.