House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La), Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) announced Thursday night that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will address a joint session of Congress on July 24.
The three leaders said Netanyahu was invited to “share the Israeli government’s vision for defending their democracy, combating terror, and establishing just and lasting peace in the region.”
Absent from the announcement was Senate Majority Leader and the only Jewish person in the room, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who declared instead his “clear and profound disagreements with the prime minister, which I have voiced both privately and publicly and will continue to do so.”
But Schumer begrudgingly said he would not try to ban Netanyahu from the Hill using the capitol police because, after all, “America’s relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or prime minister.”
So, on July 24, a day most of the northern hemisphere will be spending on the beach, America’s lawmakers (but not the Squad and Bernie), will assemble to hear from Bibi. Also, it will be the 75th birthday of actor Michael Richards, renowned around the world as Cosmos Kramer, Jerry Seinfeld’s next-door neighbor.
Fun fact, Benjamin Netanyahu, too, was born in 1949. As were Meryl Streep, Richard Gere, Shelley Duvall, Sigourney Weaver, and Caitlyn Jenner (who was known as Bruce at that time).
July 24 is also Police Day in Poland (good to know), Carnival of Awussu in Tunisia, and Pioneer Day in the State of Utah.
July 24 is not a good day for air travel. Air Fiji Flight 121 crashed on its way to Nadi, Fiji, killing all 17 people on board on July 24, 1999. The Bandaranaike Airport attack took place on July 24, 2001, when 14 Tamil Tiger commandos killed 11 civilians and destroyed military aircraft. On July 24, 2009, Aria Air Flight 1525 crashed at Mashhad International Airport, killing 16. And on July 24, 2014, Air Algerie Flight 5017 lost contact with air traffic controllers 50 minutes after takeoff. Its wreckage was later found in Mali. All 116 people on board are killed.
Not a good day for train travel either: on July 24, 2013, a high-speed train was derailed in Spain rounding a curve going at 120 mph where the speed limit was 50 mph, killing 78 passengers.
Conclusion: Bibi should fly on July 23, and take a car.
PM Netanyahu issued a response to the invite, saying, “I am very moved to have the privilege of representing Israel before both houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us to the representatives of the American people and the entire world.”
Also, isn’t it time to chuck Schumer?
