House Speaker Mike Johnson has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress in the near future. However, for this to become an official address, it requires approval from the Democratic majority leader of the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer.
Schumer, who has previously referred to Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace, finds himself in a challenging position. Some Democrats have criticized Netanyahu for his actions during the recent conflict with Hamas, labeling him as responsible for a humanitarian crisis.
There is growing dissent within the Democratic Party regarding how to handle the situation in Gaza and whether President Biden should take a stronger stance against Netanyahu. The prospect of Netanyahu addressing a joint session of Congress has sparked division among party members, with many indicating they would boycott the speech if it were to happen.
Despite reservations from some Democrats, Schumer has hinted at supporting the invitation for Netanyahu to address Congress. As the highest-ranking Jewish Democrat and a long-time supporter of Israel, Schumer's potential endorsement of the invite underscores the complexities of the situation.
Notably, this wouldn't be the first time Netanyahu has been invited to address Congress without prior consultation with the White House. In 2015, then-Speaker Boehner extended a similar invitation, which was supported by Schumer, despite differences with Netanyahu.
The decision on whether Netanyahu will address Congress remains pending, with ongoing discussions between Speaker Johnson and Senator Schumer. The situation highlights the delicate balance Schumer faces in navigating his party's stance on Netanyahu amidst the current conflict in the Middle East.
