Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Senate Republican Conference, while there are discussions within the House GOP leadership about extending an invitation for him to address Congress.
According to Axios, House Republicans are contemplating the possibility of inviting Netanyahu to speak before Congress. This idea was floated during a closed-door GOP conference meeting earlier on Wednesday.
“It was suggested by several folks,” shared one GOP lawmaker with Axios, indicating the level of interest within the party.
Rep. John Duarte from California confirmed the discussions, highlighting the widespread support within the GOP for demonstrating respect towards Israel’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, at least one House Democrat expressed willingness to attend a potential Netanyahu speech before Congress. Rep. Brad Schneider from Illinois emphasized the importance of bipartisan support for Israel, underscoring the significance of fostering strong relationships across party lines.
Netanyahu is expected to address Senate GOP members via video conference during their weekly luncheon, as reported by The Hill. His appearance was initially planned for last week’s annual retreat but had to be postponed at the last moment.
The timing of Netanyahu’s address to Senate Republicans coincides with recent remarks by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called for new elections in Israel, citing concerns over Netanyahu’s handling of the situation in Gaza. Senate Republicans criticized Schumer’s comments, viewing them as unwarranted interference in Israel’s internal affairs.
Both Netanyahu and his political rival, Benny Gantz, condemned Schumer’s statement, labeling it as inappropriate and stressing the importance of respecting Israel’s democratic processes.
This isn’t the first time Netanyahu’s speeches have stirred controversy in US politics. In 2015, Republicans invited him to address Congress without prior consultation with the Obama administration. Netanyahu’s subsequent criticism of then-President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal further exacerbated tensions with Democrats.
