By Deutsche Welle
01 Jun 2024, 19:43 PM EDT
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced this Saturday his intention to give a speech before both chambers of the US Congress, after being invited by the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives. According to his office, Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to address both chambers of the US Congress for the fourth time.
“I am delighted by the privilege of representing Israel before both houses of Congress and of presenting the truth to representatives of the American people and around the world about our just war against those who seek to end our lives,” the Israeli premier said in a brief statement. It was not specified what date the presentation will take place.
The leadership of the US Congress on Friday invited Netanyahu to give a speech before both chambers to talk about the “defense of democracy” and the “fight against terrorism.” In a letter, Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives asked the Israeli president to intervene in Congress to present his administration’s vision of how to “establish a just and lasting peace in the region.”
Biden’s plan
The announcement comes in the midst of a push by the US Executive led by President Joe Biden to achieve a truce agreement between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which would allow the release of Israeli hostages in the enclave and end a conflict. which has already claimed the lives of more than 36,300 people in the devastated Palestinian territory.
The president’s office confirmed having authorized his negotiators to present a draft to Hamas, after Biden announced on Friday a phased truce scheme in which Israeli hostages would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners while troops gradually withdraw from Gaza. and a reconstruction plan is launched.
However, the prime minister made it clear that the war will not end until Israel achieves its military objectives, which include the total elimination of “the military and government capabilities” of Hamas in Gaza. The Palestinian group, for its part, declared that it is willing to accept an exchange of those kidnapped for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, as long as the pact leads to the end of the armed conflict in Gaza.