Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday met US House Speaker Mike Johnson at Capitol Hill in Washington, and invited him to visit Israel this year.
At the start of the meeting, Johnson said, “We've been honored to host Prime Minister Netanyahu this week here on Capitol Hill to celebrate the remarkable progress over the past year and to renew, of course, our steadfast commitment to the US-Israeli partnership.”
“The Prime Minister and I have developed a strong bond since I became Speaker. I consider him a close friend. We've spoken often. The first piece of legislation I passed after taking the gavel was a resolution of reaffirming the US's commitment to the security of Israel. That was a very important gesture on our part. And, of course, I was happy to pass the security assistance funding when Israel needed it the most,” added the Speaker.
“We were honored to host my friend, the Prime Minister, in July for his historic fourth joint address to Congress, which tied for the record of all time. And that showed the world that Israel is not alone, and they won't be so long as we are governing here,” he stated.
“Today,” continued Johnson, “we discussed the special partnership that we have between these two countries, and I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for his unrelenting commitment to making the region and the world a safer place amid really extraordinary challenges. What Israel has done in the past seven months really is a testament to what can be accomplished when we do not let the enemy set the rules.”
“As Prime Minister Netanyahu said Tuesday at the White House, when our enemies see daylight between Israel and the United States, they will exploit it. And we all know that is true. And that's why strong, decisive leadership is so crucial in this time. President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu both understand that peace is secured through strength, not appeasement, and not by turning our backs on our allies,” the Speaker said.
He also stated that “with President Trump back in the White House and Republican control of Congress, America will not turn its back on our national security priorities. Our support for Israel remains ironclad.”
Netanyahu told Johnson, “I have developed, as you say, a very warm personal bond with you. I think you're an extraordinary leader. You have the job of passing historic legislation in zero time. So we exchanged a few tips on how to do that because we both know what coalitions are. But I have to say that I'm impressed with your leadership, with your initiative, and for me, most of all, your friendship to the state of Israel, the Jewish people, the Jewish state.”
“The American-Israeli alliance has never been stronger,” Netanyahu continued. “I'm now concluding the week which began with an extraordinary meeting with President Trump, and under his leadership, the critical decisions that show his commitment and the American people's commitment to Israel have come to the fore instantly.”
“First, he renewed immediately the supply of weapons that had been stopped, which we need as we're fighting for our future, for our existence, and for the broader Middle East in a seven-front war. He immediately released those weapons. He issued yesterday these sanctions on this scandalous and corrupt organization, the ICC, that threatens the right of all democracies to defend themselves by themselves. And he's done so many things in the interim, just in two weeks. But I was deeply moved by the reception that we got, the substantive things that we discussed – making sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, and also making sure that Hamas is destroyed. We're not going to have a future for Gaza or for – a future for peace in our part of the world if Hamas remains there.”
Netanyahu noted, “We agreed on many things, but I think it sets the tone for this great strengthening of the American-Israeli alliance. It's not only an alliance between governments, it's an alliance between peoples. This is the house of the people. And you, Mr. Speaker, represent the American people that overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly support the state of Israel.”
“And I think, Mr. Speaker, that's the spirit that animates you and so many of your colleagues here, and I want to thank you again. And I want to say you’re invited to Israel this year in Jerusalem. I know you're busy, but find space to do that,” Netanyahu said, telling Johnson,”You'll be welcome on the red carpet.”
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)