WASHINGTON – Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson on Thursday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will apply Joint session of Congress.
It is not clear when the address will be given. Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he was working with him Netanyahu will be on a date and will send a formal invitation this week.
“I’m pleased to announce something else to you this evening: we will soon be hosting Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Capitol for a joint session of Congress,” Johnson said in a speech celebrating Israel’s independence hosted by the Israeli embassy.
“This will be a timely and I think very strong show of support for the Israeli government at a time when they need it most,” he said.
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for details on the timing. Israel’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the invitation.
Johnson said he would invite Netanyahu to the House regardless of whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to a joint invitation. The plans were officially announced for the first time on Thursday.
Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.
Johnson said this in his speech at the event held at the National Building Museum of the Embassy of Israel. Several other lawmakers joined the program, and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California spoke.
Johnson said Tuesday that he had given Schumer time to sign a joint letter inviting Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress.
“My office told Senator Schumer’s office yesterday that he needs to sign the joint letter and if not, we will go ahead and invite Netanyahu only to the House and I will send individual invitations to senators,” Johnson said Tuesday.
in March, Schumer refused Netanyahu’s request to address Senate Democrats. In early March, Schumer gave a fiery speech Blasting Netanyahusaying that he had “lost his way” and called for new elections in Israel.
President Joe Biden later He appreciated Sumer’s speech“expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans.”
In recent months, Biden has been increasingly critical of Israel’s handling of the war. White House it is called a humanitarian situation “Unacceptable” in Gaza. There is Biden he also said “What he did is wrong,” referring to Netanyahu’s handling of the war.
Kyle Stewart, Kate Santaliz and Rebecca Kaplan contributed.