Congressional leaders invite Netanyahu to address joint session of Congress

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday sent out a formal invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, inviting him to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress.

The invitation comes after weeks of delay. Schumer repeatedly said he intended to sign the letter, which invites Netanyahu to speak with both chambers at once, but kept putting off his signature. If Schumer decided not to sign the letter, Netanyahu would have just addressed the House, but senators would have been invited to attend.

No specific date for the address was listed, but it is expected to occur within the next eight weeks, or just after Congress returns from its August recess, an unnamed source told The Hill.

“We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability,” the letter reads. “For this reason, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, we would like to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also signed the letter on Friday.

If Netanyahu accepts the invitation, it would mark his first speech to Congress since 2015. The speech is expected to draw condemnation from some liberal lawmakers who have criticized Israel's response to its war with Hamas. During the 2015 address, some Democrats skipped the speech in protest.

Schumer, who is Jewish, has been a staunch supporter of Israel in the war. Schumer claimed that Israel has the right to defend itself against attacks on its mainland, as seen on Oct. 7. But he criticized Netanyahu in a floor speech in March, claiming the Israeli leader has "lost his way." Still, Johnson said he is committed to the alliance between Israel and the United States.

"As I’ve always said, our relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends any one prime minister or president,” Schumer said earlier this month.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.