Israeli Prime Minister Invited to Speak Before US Congress During Gaza Conflict
The congressional leaders stated that they extended an invitation to Mr. Netanyahu in order ‘to highlight America’s solidarity with Israel.’
U.S. congressional leaders on Friday extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address lawmakers amidst Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
In a May 31 letter to Mr. Netanyahu, Senate and House leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties expressed their intent behind the invitation, emphasizing the aim to “highlight America’s solidarity with Israel.”
According to the letter, “We stand by the state of Israel in its fight against terrorism, particularly as Hamas continues to hold both American and Israeli citizens captive, risking regional stability,”
The legislators elaborated that their invitation to Mr. Netanyahu was to allow him to present his government’s perspective on “protecting democracy, combating terrorism, and establishing a fair and lasting peace in the region.”
“The current existential threats we face, including the strengthening alliance between Iran, Russia, and China, pose a threat to the security, peace, and prosperity of our nations and all free people worldwide,” the congressional leaders affirmed.
It was not specified when Mr. Netanyahu would deliver his speech.
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The letter was signed by four leaders—House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Mr. Schumer, the first Jewish Senate majority leader and the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, said the Israeli leader had “lost his way” and become one of four “major obstacles” toward achieving peace in the region.
He condemned Mr. Netanyahu’s alliance with the far right of Israeli politics and said that his conduct in the war in Gaza is pushing international support for Israel to “historic lows.”
“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Mr. Schumer told the Senate on March 14.
Israel and the United States have rebuked the announcement. The Hamas terrorist group said in a May 20 statement that the ICC decided to “equate the victim with the executioner.”
The Netanyahu-led Israeli government is currently at war with Hamas which began after its terrorists infiltrated southern Israel and carried out widespread attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 1,100 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage during the attack.
Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza has now resulted in more than 35,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health department. This number includes both combatants and civilians.
The last time Mr. Netanyahu addressed Congress was in 2015 when he warned about the then-upcoming Iran nuclear deal, which he said he opposed because the United States and its allies gave Tehran sanctions relief while not adequately addressing its nuclear program and not dealing with Iran’s other activities, such as the regime’s leading support for terrorism.
A number of Democrats boycotted the 2015 address, and the Obama administration refused to meet with Mr. Netanyahu during his visit.
Jackson Richman and Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
