House Speaker Mike Johnson Announces Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Address Joint Session of Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint session of Congress, although the exact date remains unclear. Johnson is actively coordinating with Netanyahu to finalize the schedule and plans to send a formal invitation this week. The announcement was made during a speech hosted by the Israeli Embassy marking Israel’s independence.

Johnson believes Netanyahu's address will serve as a strong show of support for the Israeli government amid its ongoing war with Hamas. However, Johnson's office has not provided specific details on the timing of the address. Israeli officials have also confirmed that Netanyahu has not yet received an official invitation.

This marks the first formal announcement of Netanyahu's upcoming address. Johnson had previously indicated that he would invite Netanyahu to the House regardless of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's agreement. On Thursday, Johnson reiterated this during his keynote address at the Israeli Embassy event held at the National Building Museum, attended by several lawmakers including House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California.

Johnson has given Schumer a deadline to sign a joint letter inviting Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress. Should Schumer fail to sign, Johnson intends to proceed with inviting Netanyahu to the House and will send individual invitations to senators.

In March, Schumer declined Netanyahu’s request to address Senate Democrats and criticized Netanyahu for losing his way, calling for new elections in Israel. President Joe Biden praised Schumer's speech, highlighting the serious concerns shared by many Americans. Recently, Biden has also criticized Israel's handling of the war, labeling the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "unacceptable."

The invitation to Netanyahu comes shortly after the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has linked Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to intentional attacks against civilians and using starvation as a weapon of war.

Many Democrats have expressed frustration over Israel’s ongoing assault in Gaza and the lack of progress on a cease-fire agreement. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has vowed to boycott Netanyahu’s address, calling his actions "a terrible idea" and accusing him of causing the worst humanitarian disaster in modern history.

The upcoming address by Netanyahu to Congress will undoubtedly be a focal point of international political discourse, reflecting the complex and often contentious dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations.

Conservative Bias:

Here we go again, folks! House Speaker Mike Johnson is showing true American strength by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress. This is a bold move to stand with Israel in its righteous battle against the terrorist group Hamas. But, of course, the liberals are losing their minds. They can’t stand to see America supporting its allies. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his cronies are dragging their feet, trying to undermine this significant gesture. And let's not forget President Biden, who’s busy criticizing Israel instead of supporting our closest ally in the Middle East. The Democrats are more concerned with appeasing the international community and the biased International Criminal Court, which is absurdly targeting Netanyahu with war crimes allegations. It’s clear: the left is more interested in playing politics and pandering to anti-Israel sentiments than standing up for justice and democracy.

Liberal Bias:

House Speaker Mike Johnson is recklessly pushing forward with his plan to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address Congress, despite the clear opposition and grave concerns from many quarters. This is a blatant attempt to sideline Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats who have rightly criticized Netanyahu’s brutal actions in Gaza. President Biden and other responsible leaders have condemned Israel’s inhumane tactics, but Johnson is ignoring these warnings. Instead, he’s pandering to the far-right and enabling Netanyahu, who is under serious scrutiny by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Bernie Sanders and other principled lawmakers are rightly boycotting this address, which only serves to legitimize Netanyahu’s oppressive regime. Johnson’s actions are a disgrace and show a complete disregard for human rights and international law.