Published June 3, 2024
I am honored to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. pic.twitter.com/rYKx0Z1p93
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 31, 2024
Sources confirmed to outlets such as The Hill, POLITICO, and Punchbowl News. The report from POLITICO mentioned a curious detail, which is that President Joe Biden will be attending the G-7 address in Italy on such a date.
Among the far-left members expressing their disapproval included Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who shared a lengthy post on Friday when news came in of the invitation from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Sanders himself even reminded that he is in support of how the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced last month that it was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Israel, of course, had the right to defend itself against the horrific Hamas terrorist attack of October 7th, but it did not, and does not, have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 1, 2024
It most certainly does not have the right to block humanitarian aid from coming in to the desperate people of Gaza, creating the conditions for starvation and famine. This is a clear violation of American and international law.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 1, 2024
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.townhall.com
RELATED: Timing for Netanyahu address to Congress uncertain after floated date is ruled out
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on May 5, 2024.
Published June 3, 2024
A US congressional leadership aide initially said Monday that Netanyahu was scheduled to speak on June 13, which falls on Shavuot. It also coincides with President Joe Biden’s visit to Italy for a Group of 7 summit.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said congressional leaders are looking at various options for Netanyahu to address Congress in light of the scheduling issue.
“We are trying to get this done in the next couple of weeks, and there is a sense of urgency on our side and the prime minister’s, so I hope we can get it done,” the Louisiana Republican told reporters Monday evening.
Johnson added, “We have a couple different options we are looking at — his staff and mine — so we will figure it out.”
A source familiar with the planning of the visit said Netanyahu is likely to come to Washington in July to address Congress.
The top four congressional Republican and Democratic leaders extended the invitation to Netanyahu last week, but it wasn’t clear at the time whether the prime minister’s visit to Washington would also include a meeting at the White House.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.cnn.com
RELATED: Israel denies Netanyahu to address US Congress over Jewish holiday
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has stressed the war would continue until all of Israel’s ‘goals are achieved’
Published June 3, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday denied American media reports that he will address the US Congress on June 13, amid mounting pressure to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office told Israeli media the date of his speech to Congress had “not been finalised”, but it would not be on June 13 because it interferes with a Jewish holiday.
The date had been reported by Punchbowl News and Politico.
Speculation about the visit comes with Netanyahu facing intense criticism over the civilian death toll in the war in Gaza, which has ratcheted tension with President Joe Biden’s administration.
Biden on Friday presented what he labelled an Israeli three-phase plan that would end the conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.
Netanyahu’s office stressed that the war sparked by the October 7 attack would continue until all of Israel’s “goals are achieved,” including the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
The four party leaders in the House and Senate asked Netanyahu last week to speak before a joint meeting of Congress in a letter voicing solidarity with Israel “in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive.”
