DStv Channel 403 Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Israel's Netanyahu to address US Congress on July 24

WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address lawmakers in the US Congress on July 24, Republican party leaders announced.

The visit comes amid mounting pressure for the US ally and Hamas militants to agree to a permanent ceasefire as Israel faces growing diplomatic isolation over the rising death toll in Gaza.

President Joe Biden last week presented what he called an Israeli three-phase plan that would end the conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power. 

But Netanyahu's office stressed that the war sparked by the October 7 attacks would continue until Israel's "goals are achieved," including the destruction of Hamas, which has not given its response to the plan.

The four top party leaders in the US House and Senate from both sides asked Netanyahu last week to speak before a joint meeting of Congress in a letter voicing solidarity with Israel "in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive."

Netanyahu's visit "symbolizes the US and Israel's enduring relationship and will offer... Netanyahu the opportunity to share the Israeli government's vision for defending their democracy, combating terror, and establishing just and lasting peace in the region," House Speaker Mike Johnson and top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

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