Benjamin Netanyahu set to meet with Congress, Biden, Trump, and Harris this week
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting the United States this week and will speak before the U.S. Congress for the second time in less than a decade.
Netanyahu arrived in the U.S. on Monday and plans to meet with Joe Biden on Thursday, after the president emerges from his 5-day isolation period following a positive COVID test last week. Donald Trump also plans to meet with Netanyahu on Friday, the Republican nominee and former president announced in a Truth Social post. While both are staunch supporters of Israel, they have each had a rocky relationship with the prime minister over the years.
Before Netanyahu visits with Biden and Trump, he is set to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the request of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Israel and the United States share "existential challenges," the congressional leaders said, including a growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China. "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."
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The last time Netanyahu addressed Congress was in 2015 at the invitation of then-House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic presidential frontrunner this week, declined to preside over the prime minister's address because she will be traveling Wednesday. An aide to Harris said the vice president has plans to meet with Netanyahu separately.
Harris has not broken with Biden's support for Israel but was one of the first high-profile members of his administration to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza in March, calling the conflict a "humanitarian catastrophe."
Netanyahu's appearance is bound to spark protests as the Israel-Hamas war rages on, and dozens of lawmakers are questioning whether to attend. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., confirmed Monday he plans to boycott the address and called Netanyahu a "war criminal."
Netanyahu's bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 38,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It follows Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel in which more than 1,200 were killed and 253 hostages were taken, according to Israeli authorities.
His U.S. visit comes two months after International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced he was seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
In April, Congress approved a $95 billion foreign aid bill, including $17 billion for Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and elsewhere.
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at Paste BN, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_