Joint Speech by Speaker Johnson and Netanyahu Scheduled Soon

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced that a formal invitation will be sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress within the next eight weeks.

“I think the prime minister is eager to come address the Congress directly about the current issues. It is important for us to hear from him, and I believe he is eager to deliver that message,” Johnson stated to Punchbowl News.

Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have signed the letter. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is reviewing it to ensure bipartisanship. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has also shown support.

Johnson has provided possible dates to Netanyahu and aims to schedule the speech “as soon as possible,” before Congress goes into recess on Aug. 5.

Netanyahu has previously addressed Congress three times, with the most recent being in 2015, tying with Winston Churchill for the most speeches.

The upcoming fourth address follows Netanyahu being accused by the International Criminal Court of war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu has dismissed the ICC’s charges, emphasizing that Israel’s enemies are Hamas terrorists, not the Palestinian people.

“We’re providing half a million tons of food and medicine to Gaza. There is an abundance of food available, with 3,000 calories per person, which is almost 1,000 above the required standard,” Netanyahu stated in an interview this week.