After months without a White House invitation, U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stated Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be welcomed.
“I know we’ve had many different leaders coming to America,” McCarthy said at a Jerusalem press conference.
“I expect the White House to invite the prime minister over for a meeting, especially with the 75th anniversary.”
While opposing Netanyahu’s plans to weaken Israel’s highest court, President Joe Biden has avoided a public showdown.
Proponents claim the change balances Israeli government branches, while others argue it removes government checks. Massive demonstrations over the impending law have thrown Israel into a dilemma.
After winning the November elections, Netanyahu and his far-right coalition took power.
According to a Reuters examination of official trips from the late 1970s, most Israeli heads of state had seen the president by this time in their premierships, but Biden has yet to invite the prime minister.
In recent months, Biden and his colleagues have also voiced concern over Israeli settlement development on the West Bank and Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Netanyahu has traditionally worked with Republicans, sometimes more than Democrats. For example, in 2015, Republicans invited him to address Congress without consulting Democrats or former Vice President Obama, for whom Biden served.
McCarthy told Israel Hayom on Sunday that the speaker would invite Netanyahu to Washington if the president did not.
“He’s a dear friend, as a prime minister of a country that we have our closest ties with,” McCarthy told Israel Hayom.
McCarthy said on Monday that Israel’s ceremonial president will visit the White House shortly.
“I know the President Herzog will be coming soon for a joint session,” McCarthy remarked.
Comment Template