Netanyahu to Address US Congress on July 24

0:00

/1861

1×

Facts

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak before a joint meeting of US Congress on July 24, congressional leaders announced on Thursday.¹
• The announcement comes four days after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that no date had been set for Netanyahu's address.²
• An earlier speculated date of June 13 was avoided because it falls on a Jewish holiday, and US Pres. Joe Biden will attend a G-7 summit on that day.³
• Top Congressional leaders had issued an invite to Netanyahu last Friday after Biden laid out an Israeli-backed, three-phase cease-fire proposal to end the war in Gaza.⁴
• On July 24, Netanyahu will surpass late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the only foreign leader to address a joint session of Congress four times.⁴

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²The Hill, ³CNN and ⁴Guardian.

Narratives

• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Common Dreams. Inviting Netanyahu to address the US Congress amid the Gaza violence goes against the very grain of the US' founding ideals. How will America's representatives answer questions on the extensive civilian casualties and displacement caused by Israel's actions? Especially with the disproportionate impact on women, children, and the elderly.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by CBS. There has never been a more critical moment for the US to stand by the state of Israel as the besieged nation fights terror on its terms. America will reinforce its traditional solidarity with Israel by having Netanyahu speak to its representatives. The ultimate aim — the defense of democracy — must never be lost sight of.
• Narrative C, as provided by The Hill. Netanyahu's address to the US Congress has put Pres. Biden and other Democrats in a delicate position — balancing support for Israel with acknowledging the Gaza tragedy. The event is a politically charged move by Republicans to expose divisions within the Democratic caucus.

Predictions