Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress on July 24
Netanyahu, who has served as Israel’s prime minister longer than any other person, has addressed Congress thrice previously
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in English about Israel’s plans for the Gaza Strip after the war’s end, Nov. 10, 2024. (Screenshot)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress on July 24, his fourth time appearing before the legislative body.
The Netanyahu speech, coming against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, is meant to demonstrate American support for Israel at a time when Israel has come under widespread criticism for its military campaign and Netanyahu faces a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
“We look forward to hearing the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement.
The announcement Thursday of the date comes at a time of uncertainty in the war, as Hamas weighs a ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States and Israel that would pause the fighting for at least six weeks and could lead to an end to the war. It also comes at a tenuous political time in Israel: Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, whose centrist party joined Netanyahu’s government at the outset of the war, appears likely to quit after demanding a clear plan for the day after the fighting.
The speech is also sure to attract controversy in Washington. A significant number of Democrats have lambasted Netanyahu and called for a ceasefire in the war. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, long one of Israel’s most stalwart backers, gave a speech earlier this year calling for new elections in Israel and for Netanyahu’s government to be replaced. He later agreed to invite the prime minister to Capitol Hill.
“I have clear and profound disagreements with the Prime Minister, which I have voiced both privately and publicly and will continue to do so,” Schumer said in a statement. “But because America’s relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or prime minister I joined the request for him to speak.”
Netanyahu, who has served as Israel’s prime minister longer than any other person, has addressed Congress thrice previously. His last speech, in 2015, was particularly contentious as he was invited by Republican leadership and attacked then-President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.
This article originally appeared on JTA.org.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
