US lawmakers confirm Netanyahu will speak before Congress on July 24

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address lawmakers in the US Congress on July 24Republican party leaders announced Thursday.

Netanyahu’s visit “symbolizes the enduring relationship between the United States and Israel and will offer (…) Netanyahu the opportunity to share the Israeli government’s vision to defend its democracy, combat terror and establish a just and lasting peace in the region “House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Top Republican Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

For his part, the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, declared that invited Netanyahu to speak despite “clear and deep disagreements” (…) because the United States’ relationship with Israel is strong and transcends a person or a prime minister.”

The top four leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in the US House of Representatives and Senate last week asked Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.

Netanyahu’s visit comes amid a growing pressure for Israel and Hamas militants to agree to a ceasefire permanent, while Israel faces diplomatic isolation due to the number of deaths in Gaza.

President Joe Biden last week unveiled what he called a three-phase Israeli plan that would end the conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.

But the office Netanyahu stressed that the war unleashed by the October 7 attacks would continue until Israel “achieves its objectives”including the destruction of Hamas, which has not responded to the plan.

The war was triggered when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The militants also took 251 hostages, 120 of whom remain in Gaza, 41 of them dead, according to the military.

The retaliatory military offensive of Israel has killed at least 36,654 people in Gazaalso mostly civilians, according to the Ministry of Health of the Hamas-run territory.

US media had reported on Monday that Netanyahu had agreed to visit the United States on June 13, but his office told Israeli media that the date “had not been finalized.” and that it would not be on that date because it interferes with a Jewish holiday.

ORP