Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu Set To Address Congress On July 24
HuffPost
Democratic lawmakers who are more critical of Netanyahu’s strategy are expected to be no-shows for the address.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, setting the stage for what is expected to be a contentious speech at a crucial moment for the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Congressional leaders confirmed the date of the address late Thursday after formally inviting Netanyahu to come speak before lawmakers last week. It is the most recent show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza.
“The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, said in the letter. “To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.”
Netanyahu’s appearance before a growingly divided Congress is sure to be controversial and met with plenty of protests both inside the Capitol from lawmakers and outside by pro-Palestinian protesters. And it will put on stark display the growing election-year divisions among Democrats over the prime minister’s prosecution of the monthslong war against Hamas.
Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S. — who delivered a stinging rebuke of Netanyahu in March — said in a separate statement Thursday night that he has “clear and profound disagreements” with the Israeli leader but joined in the request for him to speak “because America’s relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or prime minister.”
U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine.
In a rematch of sorts from 2022, the Trump-endorsed Begich emerged victorious for a seat the GOP was keen to claim.
Wednesday was the first time Congress has voted on blocking specific arms transfers to Israel, reflecting deep frustration among lawmakers with Israeli conduct in Gaza and Lebanon.
Educators are sounding the alarm about Donald Trump’s choice to put the former WWE chief executive at the helm of public education.
Delaware's Sarah McBride said she had not been sent to Washington to "fight about bathrooms."
Although the president-elect's daughter-in-law, who said she'd "absolutely consider" serving in the Senate, just announced an athleisure line.
There are too many "unanswered questions" about Gaetz' sexual misconduct allegations to properly vet him for attorney general, the lawmakers say.
It was the second run for Kaptur since her district was redrawn, but her first with a mainstream GOP opponent.
Eagle lovers around the world were crushed when the nest of a Minnesota pair and their chick collapsed on live video last year.
HuffPost obtained a White House message to senators ahead of a crucial vote on sending the Israelis more arms amid the Gaza and Lebanon wars. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is helping the administration shield the policy.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said Tuesday that the selection "would be funny if it weren't so sad," adding, "This is the dream team? Really?”