Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended an invitation to House Speaker Mike Johnson to visit Jerusalem later this year following their meeting earlier today. The meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, had to be rescheduled due to a lengthy White House meeting involving House Republicans, President Donald Trump, and top officials to discuss advancing Trump's agenda.
During their meeting, Netanyahu commended the Trump administration for its support of Israel. Notably, he did not mention Trump's proposal to take over and 'develop' Gaza. Netanyahu expressed gratitude for Trump's executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court over arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. He also thanked Trump for the increased weapons support for Israel.
Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the sanctions on the ICC, describing the organization as 'scandalous and corrupt' and a threat to the defense rights of democracies. He highlighted the discussions on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and the necessity of eliminating Hamas for the future stability of Gaza and peace in the region.
Netanyahu underscored the significance of the strong bond between the United States and Israel, stating that it goes beyond just a government alliance to an alliance between the peoples of both nations. He mentioned the positive rapport he has developed with Speaker Johnson and praised Johnson's leadership.
