Staff Reports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak before Congress on June 13, a highly anticipated event that is expected to provoke strong feelings about Israel’s conflict in Gaza. This announcement has led to tensions on Capitol Hill, as some Democrats have called for a ceasefire in the region.
The Prime Minister’s upcoming address has drawn comparisons to his 2015 speech, when he criticized the Iran nuclear deal. At that time, then-Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to address Congress without notifying then-President Barack Obama, leading to some Democrats boycotting the event.
Israeli PM Netanyahu set to address joint session of US #Congress amid rising tensions over #Gaza conflicthttps://t.co/orfpAwGtNA
— DNA (@dna) May 24, 2024
Netanyahu’s forthcoming speech takes place amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The death toll has been rising, and some Democrats have urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities. President Joe Biden recently unveiled a proposed ceasefire plan with three stages, though Netanyahu’s office has stated that the war will not conclude until Hamas is completely defeated.
International attention has also focused on Netanyahu, as the International Criminal Court has applied for an arrest warrant over alleged war crimes. The US government has opposed this move, and the House is set to vote on a resolution imposing sanctions on the ICC if it pursues actions against US and allied personnel.
It is unclear which members of Congress will attend Netanyahu’s address. Some, like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, have expressed strong opposition to Netanyahu and have indicated that they will not be present for the speech.
