Netanyahu to Possibly Address Joint Session of Congress Amidst Heightened Tensions

Netanyahu to Possibly Address Joint Session of Congress Amidst Heightened Tensions

Edited by: Fern Sidman

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint session of Congress “soon.” As was reported on Thursday in The Times of Israel, this announcement, made at the Israeli Embassy’s annual Independence Day event in Washington, comes at a time of significant strain in U.S.-Israel relations, particularly in the wake of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“This will be a timely and a very strong show of support to the Israeli government in their time of greatest need,” Johnson stated, the TOI reported. The specific date for the speech has yet to be disclosed. However, Johnson noted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated his support for the invitation, marking a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on this contentious issue.

Schumer’s cooperation is particularly notable given his recent call for early elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu, whom he has described as an obstacle to peace, the report in the TOI said. This shift highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of political alliances and rivalries, especially concerning U.S. foreign policy and Middle Eastern politics.

Despite the invitation, it remains uncertain whether Netanyahu will accept. Given the current political climate, the upcoming address could see a large boycott by Democrats. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, particularly Israel’s military actions in response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks, has become increasingly unpopular among the radical left wing progressive Democrats, the report added. This internal party conflict could influence the reception and impact of Netanyahu’s speech.

The war between Israel and Hamas has also strained Netanyahu’s relationship with President Joe Biden. Recently, Noted in the TOI was that Biden threatened to withhold weapons from Israel if it launched a massive offensive in the civilian areas of Rafah, marking a significant moment of tension between the two allied nations.

On October 7, Iranian backed Hamas terrorists in Gaza launched a brutal attack, massacring approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 252 hostages. This atrocity sparked a wave of international sympathy for Israel. In response, Israel initiated a series of counterstrikes, eventually escalating to a ground offensive in Gaza. The TOI also reported that according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, though these numbers are unverified and do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel reports that it has killed at least 15,000 Hamas gunmen and about 1,000 terrorists inside Israel during the initial attack.

The conflict has also claimed the lives of 286 Israeli soldiers during the ground offensive, along with operations along the Gaza border, according to the TOI report. A civilian contractor for Israel’s Defense Ministry has also been killed in the Strip, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by those involved in the conflict.

The potential address by Netanyahu before a joint session of Congress amidst such strained relations and internal U.S. political divisions will be closely watched. It represents a critical juncture for U.S.-Israel relations and the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

Netanyahu’s previous address to Congress in 2015 was a pivotal moment in U.S.-Israel relations, significantly impacting the discourse around the Iran nuclear deal. According to the TOI report, should he choose to speak again, the context will be markedly different, with the focus likely shifting to the current conflict in Gaza and the broader implications for regional stability and U.S. foreign policy.

Since his return to office in late 2022, Netanyahu has not been invited to the White House, a notable snub that reflects deeper tensions. The TOI report said that President Joe Biden’s administration has taken issue with Netanyahu’s aggressive push to overhaul Israel’s judiciary, a move seen as undermining democratic norms and potentially jeopardizing the US-led efforts towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians. This policy rift has been further strained by Netanyahu’s recent actions and positions, which contrast sharply with the Biden administration’s vision for regional stability.

The Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 has further complicated US-Israel relations. In a historic move, President Biden visited Israel shortly after the attack, marking the first time a sitting US president has traveled to the Jewish state amid an active conflict. Despite this gesture of support, Netanyahu’s absence from the White House persists, highlighting ongoing discord.

According to the information provided in the TOI report, an official familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel that Netanyahu has been in discussions with Republican Congressional leaders about the address, viewing it as a crucial opportunity to present Israel’s case on the global stage. Netanyahu appears less concerned about potential political fallout within the US, focusing instead on solidifying support among American lawmakers.

Should Netanyahu accept the invitation, he would become the first foreign leader to address joint meetings of Congress four times, surpassing the record held by Britain’s wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, the TOI report noted.

The invitation from Congress, particularly from the Republican leadership, contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s stance, reflecting broader partisan divides over US-Israel policy. The TOI report also observed that House Speaker Mike Johnson has been vocal in criticizing Biden, accusing him of abandoning Israel despite his initial support following the October 7 attack.

The political landscape in the US regarding Israel has become increasingly polarized, with both Democrats and Republicans vying fiercely for Jewish and pro-Israel votes. The information contained in the TOI report indicated that this competition has intensified to the point where accusations of anti-Semitism have become frequent in campaign rhetoric.

Netanyahu is also under siege politically within Israel. Tens of thousands of protesters, including families of some of the 128 hostages still held in Gaza, have called for new elections. As was revealed in the TOI report, Netanyahu’s approval ratings have plummeted since the onset of the war, and he faces damaging claims from the Israeli army that he was warned multiple times last year about how Hamas and other adversaries perceived Israel’s domestic unrest as a vulnerability.

At the Israeli Embassy’s Independence Day event, where the announcement of Netanyahu’s potential address was made, California Representative Pete Aguilar, the fourth-ranked Democrat in the House, also spoke, the TOI report indicated. His presence was an attempt by the event organizers to emphasize the bipartisan nature of support for Israel within the U.S. Congress. This bipartisan support will be crucial for Netanyahu as he navigates the complex political landscape both at home and abroad.