Netanyahu's Speech at the U.S. Congress; Official Bipartisan Invitation Sent to the Israeli Prime Minister

Leaders of the U.S. Congress from both parties have officially invited Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, to speak at a joint session of Congress. This invitation was signed by Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, and Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader. The speech is expected to take place within the next eight weeks or immediately after the August holidays. The Times of Israel reported that an Israeli official confirmed the receipt of the official invitation from Netanyahu to reporters. The Hill, which covers U.S. Congress news, reported that this invitation was sent after weeks of delay by Chuck Schumer, who spoke in the Senate in March and called for early elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu. Mr. Schumer eventually agreed and stated that he is ready to cooperate in facilitating Netanyahu's speech, provided it is done in a bipartisan manner. The invitation states: 'We join you in Israel's fight against terrorism, especially as Hamas continues to take American and Israeli citizens hostage and its leaders threaten regional stability.' An informed source told The Times of Israel that Mr. Netanyahu has recently expressed eagerness about the potential speech at a joint session with Republican leaders in Congress, viewing it as an opportunity to present Israel's positions on the global stage. Netanyahu's last speech was in 2015 during Barack Obama's presidency amid nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in a Congress controlled by Republicans, where 60 Democratic lawmakers boycotted the event in protest. In that speech, the Israeli Prime Minister strongly criticized the nuclear negotiations of world powers, especially the United States, with the Islamic Republic. Mr. Netanyahu was opposed to the 1+5 negotiations involving the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany with Iran and viewed any potential agreement with Tehran with skepticism. He stated in that speech, 'In the agreement that is being formed, none of Iran's nuclear facilities will be destroyed.' This time, it is also expected that more Democrats will boycott Mr. Netanyahu's speech, which takes place amid the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Speaking in Congress is an honor typically reserved for the closest allies of the United States. Netanyahu has spoken in the U.S. Congress three times since 2014. The reaction of American lawmakers to the Biden administration's decision to halt the shipment of certain weapons to Israel; Netanyahu's office statement after Biden's speech: Israel's proposal will lead to the end of Hamas and the freedom of all hostages; The U.S. President rejected the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction to issue rulings against Israeli officials; Criticism from the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army towards Netanyahu for failing to provide a suitable strategy post-war for Gaza.