US House leader moves toward inviting Netanyahu to address Congress

22/5/2024 6:12

        The Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives said on Tuesday he was close to inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address
        lawmakers even if the Senate's Democratic leader did not go along.
        
        House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters at the Capitol he had given Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer until Tuesday to sign a letter inviting Netanyahu to address a joint meeting.
        
        "If not, we're going to proceed and invite Netanyahu just to the House," Johnson said.
        
        Schumer confirmed that he was talking to Johnson. "I'm discussing that now with the speaker of the House and, as I've always said, our relationship with Israel is ironclad. It transcends any one prime minister or president," Schumer told reporters at his weekly news conference.
        
        The possible divide between the two parties over the issue underscored the politicization of Israel policy, months before a November presidential election in which Democratic President Joe Biden is running against Republican former President Donald Trump.