House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Thursday his plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress. This decision comes in response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recent call for Israel to hold a new election as a potential means of replacing Netanyahu.
“We will definitely extend that invitation,” stated Johnson during an interview with CNBC.
Johnson mentioned that they are currently in the process of coordinating schedules for all the tasks at hand.
Schumer would have to approve Johnson’s invitation for a joint session of Congress to take place.
In a statement on Thursday, Schumer expressed his support for Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of a bipartisan approach.
In a statement, Schumer emphasized the enduring strength of the United States and Israel’s alliance, stating that it surpasses any individual leader’s tenure. He expressed his willingness to support bipartisan communication between the Prime Minister of Israel and Congress.
Multiple senators who were present at the meeting confirmed that Netanyahu recently engaged in a video conference with Senate Republicans. During the discussion, various topics were covered, including aid to Israel and the comments made by Schumer.
During the virtual address on Wednesday, Netanyahu exclusively engaged with Senate Republicans. However, when approached by Netanyahu to virtually address the Senate Democratic caucus, Schumer declined, stating that he did not believe these discussions should be approached in a partisan manner.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Johnson revealed that he is contemplating the idea of inviting Netanyahu to address Congress as a direct response to Schumer’s recent speech. In his address, Schumer openly criticized Netanyahu, describing him as a hindrance to peace and suggesting that he has deviated from his original path. These comments were made against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis.
“In a speech, Schumer expressed his unwavering support for Israel and highlighted the need for a different coalition in the country. According to him, the Netanyahu coalition no longer aligns with the current needs of Israel, particularly after October 7. Schumer emphasized that the world has undergone radical changes, and the Israeli people are currently facing limitations due to a governing vision that is rooted in the past.”
Johnson expressed his disbelief and shock at Schumer’s comments, describing them as staggering. He found it hard to believe that Schumer would make such a statement.
“It is absolutely outrageous for the leader of the Senate to make such a statement,” he exclaimed. “This kind of rhetoric sends a highly negative signal to both our allies and our adversaries across the globe.”
When asked about whether Schumer would agree to a joint session, Johnson replied, “I guess we will find out.”
“I extend the invitations to speak in the House, and if we only have the House, that’s perfectly fine,” Johnson stated. “However, I believe that a significant majority of the Senate would also want to come and show their support for Netanyahu and Israel.”