Schumer ready to join Johnson’s invitation to Netanyahu’s speech to Congress

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) is ready to join President Mike Johnson (R-La.) in inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver a speech to Congress, despite of tensions between the Israeli leader and many Democrats over the current war in the Middle East.

Johnson told The Hill this week that he sent Schumer a draft of the invitation about a month ago, but the Senate leader has been sitting on it ever since.

“I sent a draft of the letter, because it’s a bicameral invitation letter, which is on Chuck Schumer’s desk. As far as I know, he hasn’t signed it yet,” Johnson said.

But now Schumer is ready to sign, according to his office.

“He intends to join the invitation, the timing is being right,” the Senate leader’s spokesperson told The Hill.

Netanyahu’s visit – if it comes to fruition – will certainly provoke outrage among liberals, who have strongly criticized the prime minister’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas and the rising number of civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

It will also come amid a tense moment in the relationship between Schumer – the highest-ranking Jewish official in US history – and Netanyahu, after the Senate leader called new elections in Israel to replace the longtime conservative leader.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer said Netanyahu “has lost his way.”

UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story