Posted on 06/06/24
| News Source: Arutz-7
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, July 24, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Thursday.
“The bipartisan, bicameral meeting symbolizes the US and Israel's enduring relationship and will offer Prime Minister Netanyahu the opportunity to share the Israeli government's vision for defending their democracy, combatting terror, and establishing just and lasting peace in the region,” they said in a statement announcing the speech.
Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News reported the July 24 date earlier on Thursday. Sherman reported earlier this week that Netanyahu would address Congress next Thursday, June 13, but that date coincides with the second day of the holiday of Shavuot.
Sherman reported earlier this week that Netanyahu would address Congress next Thursday, June 13, but that date coincides with the second day of the holiday of Shavuot.
The Prime Minister's Office stated that "a date has not yet been set for Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress. In any case, the speech will not take place on June 13 due to the second day of the holiday of Shavuot."
Netanyahu was officially invited last Friday to deliver the address to Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent Netanyahu a formal invitation to speak during a joint meeting of Congress, and the invitation featured the signatures of all four Congressional leaders: Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability,” the letter reads. “For this reason, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, we would like to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "I am very moved to have the privilege of representing Israel before both Houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us to the representatives of the American people and the entire world."
The formal invitation to Netanyahu came a week after Johnson said at an event in Washington that Schumer had agreed to invite Netanyahu to address congress.
Netanyahu previously spoke before Congress in March of 2015.