A day after President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress with the State of the Union address, House Speaker John Boehner is inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before the same group of lawmakers next month.
In a letter to Netanyahu dated Wednesday, Boehner invited the Israeli leader to address the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate on February 11. It would be the prime minister’s third appearance before Congress.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is a great friend of our country, and this invitation carries with it our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of his people,” Boehner said in a statement.
The Speaker added that he is requesting that the Netanyahu speak about the threats posed by radical Islam and Iran.
“In this time of challenge, I am asking the Prime Minister to address Congress on the grave threats radical Islam and Iran pose to our security and way of life,” he said. “Americans and Israelis have always stood together in shared cause and common ideals, and now we must rise to the moment again.”
CNN reports Netanyahu has accepted the invitation.
Former Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Olmert, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin have also addressed Congress.
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