McCarthy takes jab at Biden administration in address to Israeli Knesset
Mabinty Quarshie
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) underscored the key ties between Israel and the United States amid tensions between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday.
“The United States cherishes this unbreakable bond with Israel. I’m proud that my country recognized your country 11 minutes after it declared its independence, the first country to do so,” McCarthy said to applause.
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McCarthy also celebrated Israel’s 75 years of independence after the country was formed on May 14, 1948. “Israel’s rebirth is nothing less than a modern miracle, and I thank you for it,” he said.
During the address, McCarthy affirmed the Abraham Accords, a set of agreements that normalized diplomatic ties between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. It was brokered by the Trump administration in 2020. But the House speaker also made clear the U.S. would not ignore Iran’s threat to Israel. “We must always remain resolute in our commitment that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Biden has not invited Netanyahu to the White House since the prime minister regained power in December. Netanyahu is now the head of Israel’s conservative government and is attempting to overhaul the nation’s judicial system, leading to division among citizens.
The overhaul has led to mass protests and nationwide labor strikes, forcing Netanyahu to pause the judicial plan. It has also led to some disagreement between Biden and Netanyahu, with the U.S. president previously telling reporters in March, “I hope he walks away from it.”
McCarthy did not address the spat between the two leaders during his speech.
McCarthy is visiting Israel with a bipartisan delegation of congressional members and is only the second House speaker to address the Knesset since Newt Gingrich (R-GA) in 1998. McCarthy met with both Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Before his address at the Knesset, McCarthy suggested Netanyahu visit Congress if Biden doesn’t offer him the customary White House invitation.
“Israel has no better friend than the United States, and the United States has no better friend than Israel,” Netanyahu said before McCarthy spoke.
McCarthy announced a “House-Knesset parliamentary friendship” during his address.
“So we can continue the strength of our bonds and build mutual understanding as elected representatives and work better together, democracy to democracy,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy is also in the midst of tensions with Biden over raising the debt ceiling. Biden has refused to meet with McCarthy for months, while the House GOP narrowly passed legislation last month that would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024, whichever comes first. The bill, however, is dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate.
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“Beginning this week, our Committees will begin to hold hearings and expose the true impact of this reckless legislation on everyday Americans,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a letter released on Monday.
“On Thursday, the Budget Committee will hold a hearing on the Default on America Act,” he said, derisively nicknaming the House GOP’s legislation.