Netanyahu gets his formal invitation to speak to Congress

WASHINGTON – The four top Congressional leaders formally invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to speak to a joint session of Congress.

"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," House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in the invitation.

They wrote that both Israel and the U.S. face "existential challenges," including a growing partnership between Iran, Russia and China.

"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."

Johnson said last week that he expects Netanyahu to speak to Congress "soon," and news outlets have reported it is likely to be scheduled sometime this summer. It will be Netanyahu's fourth time addressing a joint session of Congress.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in American history, has repeatedly said he supported inviting Netanyahu to speak but didn't sign the letter for weeks, saying the leaders were working out the timing.

Schumer has been critical of Netanyahu's approach to Israel's war against Hamas even as he maintains support for Israel overall. In March, he called for new elections to be held in Israel to replace Netanyahu and "to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel."

The war has created a rift in the Democratic Party, as Congress' progressive members become increasingly frustrated with the administration and with leadership's support for Netanyahu's bombing campaign in the Gaza strip, which has exceeded 35,000 people according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israel began attacking Hamas in Gaza after an Oct. 7 attack in Israel, in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 240 hostages were taken.

Congress approved a $95 billion foreign aid bill earlier this year that included $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid, including in Gaza.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu gets invite to address Congress