Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi argued Friday that congressional leaders made a mistake in inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before lawmakers next month.
“I think this is wrong,” Rep. Pelosi (D-Calif.) told CNN about the 74-year-old Israeli leader’s planned address to a joint session of Congress on July 24.
“It’s a great shame he was invited,” the 84-year-old added.
Pelosi, who will lead House Democrats for two decades until she steps down in January 2023, also said she “absolutely” would not have invited Netanyahu if she were still speaker, pointing out that in 2015 then-Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) had vetoed an invitation for the Israeli head of government to address Congress.
Among other objections, the former speaker questioned whether Prime Minister Netanyahu would still be in power when he was scheduled to speak.
“Everything I read was about them being unhappy about this or that. [Israeli minister without portfolio Benny Gantz]”After suggesting that Prime Minister Netanyahu should resign for leading the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Speaker Pelosi said that not only the prime minister but his cabinet members should resign as well.
“I hope he becomes a politician and does the right thing for Israel.”
The top four members of Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), all signed initial invitations to Netanyahu last month.
“[T]”The horrific attacks of October 7 shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence,” the formal request read. “We join the State of Israel in the fight against terrorism, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders endanger regional stability.”
“For this reason, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, I would like to ask you to address a joint session of Congress.”
In March, Schumer denounced Netanyahu as an “obstacle” to Middle East peace and called for “new elections” to replace Israel as prime minister as soon as possible after the end of the war.
“I have clear and deep disagreements with the prime minister that I have expressed and will continue to express privately and publicly,” Schumer said in a statement Thursday, “but because the relationship between the United States and Israel is strong and goes beyond any one person or prime minister, I have joined the call for the prime minister to speak out.”
“I respect his view,” Pelosi told CNN host Dana Bash about Schumer’s remarks, “but I don’t necessarily agree with it.”
Pelosi expressed concern that Netanyahu’s appearance at the Capitol would attract protesters and further fuel “discontent” over Israel’s war with Hamas.
“I think we’re going to see more of what we’ve seen so far in terms of public discontent with what’s going on on the ground,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s a wise decision, but I respect that others have their own opinions.”
Netanyahu’s July speech will be his fourth address to a joint session of parliament, more than any other foreign leader.
