众议院议长·迈克·约翰逊周四表示他将邀请以色列在参议院多数党查克·舒默几天后，总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡将在国会发表讲话呼吁以色列举行新的选举被视为取代内塔尼亚胡的一种方式。
约翰逊说:“我们肯定会发出邀请。”在接受美国消费者新闻与商业频道采访时说.
约翰逊补充说:“我们正在努力制定所有这些工作的时间表。”
要举行国会联席会议，舒默需要签署约翰逊的邀请。
舒默周四在一份声明中表示，他不会反对内塔尼亚胡“以两党合作的方式”向立法者发表讲话。
舒默在一份声明中说:“以色列没有比美国更强大的盟友，我们的关系超越了任何一位总统或任何一位总理。“我将永远欢迎以色列总理有机会以两党合作的方式向国会发表讲话。”
他们的评论是在第二天发表的内塔尼亚胡与参议院共和党人举行了视频会议据参加会议的多名参议员透露，他们在会上讨论了包括援助以色列和舒默评论在内的广泛话题。
值得注意的是，内塔尼亚胡周三只与参议院共和党人进行了交谈。舒默拒绝了内塔尼亚胡在参议院民主党核心小组会议上发表虚拟演讲的请求，因为据一位发言人说，“舒默明确表示，他认为这些讨论不应该发生在党派问题上。”
约翰逊周三告诉记者，他正在考虑邀请内塔尼亚胡在国会发表讲话，以回应舒默上周对内塔尼亚胡的严厉批评。舒默在讲话中说，内塔尼亚胡是“和平的障碍”，他在加沙日益严重的人道主义危机中轰炸加沙时“迷失了方向”。
“作为以色列的终身支持者，我很清楚:内塔尼亚胡联盟在10月7日之后不再适合以色列的需要。舒默在演讲中说:“自那以来，世界发生了翻天覆地的变化，以色列人民现在正被停留在过去的执政愿景所扼杀。”
约翰逊称舒默的评论“令人震惊”和“难以置信”。
“参议院领袖说出这样的话简直令人发指，”他说。“……它向我们在世界各地的盟友和敌人发出了一个可怕的信号。”
当被问及舒默是否会同意举行联席会议时，约翰逊表示“我想我们会找到答案的。”
约翰逊说:“我是发出在众议院演讲邀请的人，如果我们只是拥有众议院，那也很好。”“但我认为参议院绝大多数议员会希望前来支持内塔尼亚胡和以色列。”
Johnson says he will invite Netanyahu to address Congress amid partisan tension
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that he will inviteIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress -- a move that comes days after Senate Majority Chuck Schumercalled for Israel to hold a newelectionseen as a way to replace Netanyahu.
"We will certainly extend that invitation," Johnsonsaid in an interview with CNBC.
"We're just trying to work out schedules on all this," Johnson added.
For a joint session of Congress to occur, Schumer would need to sign off on Johnson's invitation.
Schumer said in a statement Thursday that he would not oppose Netanyahu coming to speak to lawmakers "in a bipartisan way."
"Israel has no stronger ally than the United States and our relationship transcends any one president or any one Prime Minister," Schumer said in a statement. "I will always welcome the opportunity for the Prime Minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way."
Their comments came a day afterNetanyahu had a video conference with Senate Republicanswhere they discussed a wide range of topics including aid to Israel and Schumer's comments, according to multiple senators who were in the meeting.
Netanyahu notably spoke only to Senate Republicans Wednesday. Schumer declined a request from Netanyahu to virtually address the Senate Democratic caucus because, according to a spokesperson, "Sen. Schumer made it clear that he does not think these discussions should happen in a partisan matter."
Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he was considering inviting Netanyahu to address Congress in response to last week's scathing speech from Schumer that was highly critical of Netanyahu. In the speech, Schumer said Netanyahu is an "obstacle to peace" and that he has "lost his way" as Israel bombards Gaza amid a growing humanitarian crisis there.
"As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7. The world has changed -- radically -- since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past," Schumer said in the speech.
Johnson called Schumer's comments "staggering" and "unbelievable."
"For the leader of the Senate to say such a thing is just outrageous," he said. "…It sends a terrible signal to our allies and our enemies around the world."
Asked about if Schumer would agree to a joint session, Johnson said "I guess we will find out."
"I'm the one that extends the invitations to speak in the House and if we just have the House that's fine too," Johnson said. "But I think a big majority of that Senate would want to come and stand in support of Netanyahu and Israel."
