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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 2 May 2023
U.S. House speaker in Knesset amid

fraught U.S.-Israel ties

By ILAN BEN ZION and TIA
GOLDENBERG
Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S.
House speaker addressed
Israel's parliament on Mon-
day, a rare honor awarded
to the highest-ranking Re-
publican in U.S. politics at a
time of fraught relations be-
tween Israel's government
and Democratic President
Joe Biden.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy
and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu por-
trayed the speech as a
nod to bipartisan U.S. sup-
port for Israel as it marks
75 years since its creation.
Critics say the platform giv-
en to McCarthy — he's only
the second House speaker
to address the Knesset, af- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, speaks as U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin
ter Newt Gingrich in 1998 McCarthy, right, listens during a session of the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, Monday,
— is a pointed jab at Biden. May 1, 2023. Associated Press
McCarthy spoke to the
Knesset, greeted by fre- critical of Israeli policies, planned at the moment. hu, a lifelong conservative
quent applause and a including the treatment of "I think we've seen Speaker with American-accented
standing ovation, as law- Palestinians. McCarthy's comments and English and deep ties to
makers returned from a McCarthy addressed the we'll let him speak to those the U.S., hasn't hidden his
month-long recess. They Knesset at a time when comments and whatever Republican leanings even
are expected to resume both Republicans and his intentions are," Kirby as he's spoken of the im-
the fight over a conten- Democrats are steeling said. "What I can speak to portance of keeping Israel
tious plan, promoted by for presidential nomina- is the longstanding unwav- a bipartisan issue. In 2015,
the most right-wing govern- tion races. Republicans are ering support the President he delivered a speech to
ment in Israel's history, to seeking to present them- Biden has already provid- Congress against the Iran
overhaul the judiciary. selves to voters, especially ed to the people in Israel nuclear deal which was
The plan has split Israelis to evangelical Christians, over many, many decades widely seen as a slight
and drawn a rare public re- as the best ally to Israel. of public service." against the Obama admin-
buke from Biden. Amid the McCarthy and Netanyahu Before the parliament istration, which negotiated
tensions, Biden has so far met face to face ahead recess, Netanyahu had the agreement. He was ac-
denied Netanyahu a typi- of the Knesset address and paused judicial overhaul cused of backing Republi-
cally customary invitation the Republican lavished plans under intense pres- can Mitt Romney's candi-
to the White House after his praise on the Israeli leader, sure, which has included dacy for president and was
election win late last year. saying his "leadership, char- large weekly protests, a one of President Donald
In a challenge to Biden, acter and courage" inspire labor strike and threats by Trump's closest internation-
McCarthy said Monday he Americans. military reservists to stop al supporters.
expects the White House The Californian said the the showing up for duty. Biden That Republican tilt has
"to invite the prime min- U.S. "cherishes its unbreak- waded into the criticism, tested ties with American
ister over for a meeting, able bond" with Israel, saying Netanyahu "cannot Jews, most of whom lean
especially with the 75th pledged continued fund- continue down this road." Democratic.
anniversary" of Israel's in- ing for security assistance, While Netanyahu and Eytan Gilboa, an expert
dependence. He said he and said the countries Biden have known each on U.S.-Israel relations,
would invite Netanyahu to must "remain resolute in our other for decades, their re- said there's been "serious
speak to Congress if Biden commitment that Iran will lationship has soured since damage" to Israel's ties to
doesn't. never acquire a nuclear Netanyahu returned to of- Washington, and that Ne-
McCarthy's visit to Israel weapon." fice late last year after a tanyahu himself "broke the
was another sign of the In Washington, White House brief break as opposition bipartisanship" surrounding
gradual transformation of National Security Council leader. The Biden adminis- Israel. The McCarthy visit,
Israel from a bipartisan mat- spokesman John Kirby side- tration has voiced unease he said, was a way for both
ter into a wedge issue in stepped questions about about Netanyahu's gov- Republicans and Netanya-
U.S. politics. The trend goes McCarthy's suggestion that ernment, made up of ultra- hu to stick it to Biden.
back more than a decade, he could invite Netanyahu nationalists who were once "Netanyahu thinks that if
when Netanyahu began to speak to Congress sepa- at the fringes of Israeli poli- McCarthy visits here it will
openly siding with Repub- rate of a White House visit. tics and now hold senior put pressure on the White
licans against Democrats. Kirby said that he expect- positions dealing with the House to invite him." Gilboa
In parallel, some younger ed Netanyahu would visit Palestinians and other sen- said. "Republicans are fight-
progressive Democrats the White House at some sitive issues. ing over who's the greatest
have become increasingly point but said no visit was Over the years, Netanya- supporter of Israel."q