(Washington) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the American Congress “soon”, announced Thursday evening the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, for whom it will be a “strong expression of support” in the middle of the war in Gaza.
“Tonight, I am happy to announce something else: we will soon welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Capitol for a joint session of Congress,” declared the Republican “speaker” (president) of the House of Representatives, during a reception at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
“This will be a timely and, I think, very strong show of support for the Israeli government at a time when it is needed most,” he added.
This invitation, launched to the Israeli Prime Minister by the Republican opposition to President Joe Biden, comes after a double setback suffered this week by Israel: the recognition by three European countries of the State of Palestine and the decision of the prosecutor of the Criminal Court international, Karim Khan, to request arrest warrants against Mr. Netanyahu for alleged “crimes against humanity”, at the same time as against the leaders of Hamas.
It also comes as the American president has publicly stated his opposition to a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah where more than a million civilians are trapped, and has threatened to stop certain arms deliveries to Israel if his warning is not met. was not heard.
This decision has sparked criticism in Washington from his Republican opponents, who accuse him of abandoning Israel.
No date has been proposed for the Israeli prime minister’s visit to Washington, who has yet to agree.
In March, the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, caused an uproar by declaring in a speech in the chamber that the government coalition “led by Netanyahu no longer corresponds to the needs of Israel after October 7.” date of the start of the war with the Palestinian movement Hamas, and calling for elections in Israel.