On July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver his fourth speech to Congress amid rising tensions over the war between Israel and Hamas.
The invitation to the Prime Minister was extended by Republicans and Democrats in a scarce bipartisan gesture.
Voices in Israel see this as a encouraging certificate the connection between Israel and America.
On Saturday, Netanyahu received an invitation from the Republican and Democratic leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives to again address a joint session of Congress – an honor reserved for America’s most committed allies.
However, fierce criticism quickly followed. Some leftists expressed their disdain for the invitation, most notably Bernie Sanders, who had announced that he would not attend.
Related: Bernie Sanders announces boycott of Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress – Nobody cares
One of the four signatories of the invitation, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, has publicly criticized the Prime Minister, but agrees that the Replace relations with Israel Opinions about a particular politician.
“I have clear and profound differences of opinion with the prime minister, which I have expressed both privately and publicly, and will continue to do so. But because America’s relationship with Israel is rock solid and goes beyond any one person or prime minister, I joined in the request that he speak,” Schumer said.
In addition to Schumer, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also signed the invitation letter.
The prime minister has addressed Congress three times before, in 1996, 2011 and 2015. His 2015 speech was controversial because he used the opportunity to criticize Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. Some saw it as inappropriate interference in US policy decisions and at best rude to a guest, while others saw it as the prime minister’s duty to voice his concerns about a deal that could also affect Israel’s security. The speech continues to generate controversy today, leaving many eagerly awaiting what Prime Minister Netanyahu will say in July.
The Prime Minister’s invitation is encouraging for those who want to see a strengthening of the alliance between our two countries. But the timing undoubtedly makes the invitation controversial. On the one hand, a time of crisis is the best time to support our allies, and that is what Republicans will want to show so close to the election. On the other hand, we should now brace ourselves for the protests that will undoubtedly come from the left. And like a parent in a public place who cannot control their raging child, this will surely bring embarrassment to our country’s delicate liberal leaders.
Criticism on US soil will not surprise the prime minister. In fact, it shows either great boldness or stubbornness on Netanyahu’s part to accept the invitation at a time when tensions are at their highest and divisions could be further exacerbated. The prime minister is not expected to mince his words. He has not shown us that he is. So now all we can do is prepare for the consequences – nothing will come with greater certainty.
The very fact that we are inviting such a controversial figure at a time of such high tension proves what Schumer said: the relationship between Israel and the United States is ironclad. Perhaps you could compare it to brothers. Brothers may quarrel, brothers may disagree, but they stick together. If that analogy is too romantic for some, at least one can say that we have no other ally like Israel. The future of our two countries will be intertwined for generations to come, even after this terrible time. With that in mind, a visit by the Israeli prime minister can always be seen as welcome, whether it suits or not. Bernie and the rest of the far left can stay home.
