Prime US lawmakers invite Israel’s Netanyahu to Congress amid Gaza battle | Israel-Palestine battle Information

Israeli prime minister set to ship handle to Congress regardless of rising anger over his authorities’s abuses in Gaza.

The highest legislators in america have issued a proper invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ship a speech to Congress within the newest present of help for Israel amid its battle on Gaza.

The invite by Republican and Democratic leaders within the Senate and Home of Representatives on Friday got here because the Worldwide Felony Courtroom considers issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged battle crimes.

“To construct on our enduring relationship and to spotlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli authorities’s imaginative and prescient for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a simply and lasting peace within the area,” the letter mentioned.

It didn’t specify a date for the speech.

I’m honored to ask Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to handle a joint assembly of Congress. pic.twitter.com/rYKx0Z1p93

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 31, 2024

The letter was signed by Home Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Home chief Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Chief Mitch McConnell.

If he accepts the invitation, Netanyahu would surpass the late former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill because the international chief who has delivered essentially the most speeches to a joint session of Congress.

Churchill – who led his nation via World Struggle II and helped defeat Nazi Germany – and Netanyahu have every addressed Congress on three separate events.

Netanyahu has been dealing with world outrage over Israel’s obvious abuses in Gaza, the place the Israeli navy has killed greater than 36,000 folks and destroyed massive elements of the territory.

Israel has additionally imposed a strict blockade in Gaza, bringing the territory to the verge of famine.

Netanyahu’s authorities defied its Western allies, together with america, this month by launching a significant assault in Rafah in southern Gaza, the place practically 1.5 million Palestinians had been sheltering. The offensive has displaced a million Palestinians.

An Israeli bombing of a camp for displaced folks in Rafah earlier this month killed 45 Palestinians and sparked worldwide outrage.

However the US Congress stays staunchly pro-Israel though some Democrats have been more and more important of Netanyahu.

In March, Schumer referred to as for a brand new election in Israel and described Netanyahu as an impediment to peace, citing the Israeli prime minister’s opposition to the two-state resolution.

The congressional invite on Friday introduced anger from Palestinian rights advocates. Actor Cynthia Nixon referred to as it “shameful” in a social media publish addressing Schumer.

“Maybe Netanyahu will be arrested for his battle crimes on the Senate flooring,” she wrote.

Earlier on Friday, US President Joe Biden outlined a proposal that he mentioned would result in an “enduring” ceasefire in Gaza.

The three-phase plan would see the discharge of Israeli captives within the territory, in addition to lots of of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, Biden mentioned.

The initiative, which Biden mentioned was put ahead by Israel, marks a shift within the place of the US administration, which had solely sought a short lived truce whereas backing Israel’s objective of eliminating Hamas.

“President Biden understands that having this battle drag effectively previous his election just isn’t going to be one thing that really works for him politically,” Palestinian-American analyst Omar Baddar informed Al Jazeera.

“It’s extremely pricey and damaging for him, and I feel that this is the reason he’s placing his foot down at this level and inserting monumental strain upon Israel to simply accept the ceasefire deal.”