Congressional leaders invite Israel’s Netanyahu to address U.S. lawmakers

washington — The four top leaders of the House and Senate invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak at a joint meeting of Congress, despite political divisions over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

“We join the State of Israel in its fight against terrorism, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders put regional stability at risk,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, the leader of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Leader. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wrote in the letter to Netanyahu, which was released on Friday.

“To build on our lasting relationship and highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision to defend democracy, combat terrorism, and establish a just and lasting peace in the region,” the letter said.

The date of the speech was not included in the invitation.

Divisions during the war

The invitation comes at a time when the debate has shifted in recent months over US support for Israel, a longtime ally, in the midst of its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Some Democrats have called on President Biden to condition or cut military aid to the country over its conduct in Gaza, arguing that Israel has violated international humanitarian law. Around 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, and many face starvation.

In White House comments on Friday announcing that Israel presented a new ceasefire proposalBiden acknowledged the divisions in the war and said the Palestinians “have endured hell in this war.”

“I know this is an issue that people in this country feel deeply and passionately about. I do too. It’s been one of the most difficult and complicated problems in the world,” he said.

The president also said that Israel had accomplished one of its main war objectives and that “Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7th,” referring to Hamas’ horrific attacks on Israel last year, which left more than 1,200 dead. The attacks led Israel to launch war in the Hamas-led Gaza Strip.

In March, Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., called Netanyahu is a “major obstacle to peace” and said he “lost himself by allowing his political survival to take precedence over Israel’s best interests.” Schumer, a long-time supporter of Israel, also called on his government to hold new elections.

“He has been too willing to tolerate the number of civilian casualties in Gaza, which is driving support for Israel around the world to historic lows,” the New York Democrat said in a speech on the Senate floor. “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.”

Days later, Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said he planned to invite Netanyahu to speak to Congress. Schumer said in a statement that “Israel has no stronger ally than the United States” and that he “will always welcome the opportunity for Israel’s prime minister to speak to Congress in a bipartisan manner.”

Schumer recently reiterated to reporters that the U.S. relationship with Israel is “firm and transcends any prime minister or president.”

US officials, including those who have criticized Netanyahu, came to his defense earlier this month after the International Criminal Court announced it is seeking arrest warrants against the prime minister and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. If a warrant is issued for Netanyahu, he could risk arrest if he travels to a country that recognizes the court. The USA does not.

The move to obtain a warrant was welcomed by some US progressives. Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, he said he “would be more than happy to show the ICC the way to the House floor to issue that warrant.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, said the ICC “is doing its job.”

“Democratically elected officials can commit war crimes,” Sanders said on the Senate floor. “We cannot apply international law only when it is convenient.”

The Chamber is working on legislation involving sanctions against the ICC in response.

Sanders recently said CNN in an interview that he would not attend Netanyahu’s speech, which he called a “terrible idea.” Several other Democrats also expressed opposition.

“I just don’t think it’s constructive for Netanyahu to speak, to give a joint speech at this time. Period,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, told reporters.

Before Memorial Day, Jeffries, also of New York, said the notion that Democrats are divided on the issue “is overblown.” Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, added that if Netanyahu is invited to speak before Congress, “we will respect that.”

Netanyahu last addressed a joint meeting of Congress in 2015, when he was trying to convince lawmakers to torpedo negotiations between the Obama administration and Iran over the regime’s nuclear program.

Jaala Brown, Alan He, Nikole Killion and Ellis Kim contributed reporting.