Johnson’s speech comes amid reports of rising anti-Semitism in the United States.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced on June 11 that he will address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in a special session on June 22.
This comes as Israel has been fighting in Gaza since Hamas’s terrorist attack on the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in Hamas killing more than 1,000 people and taking 251 others hostage. The United States is seeking to reach a cease-fire deal that results in the release of the 55 remaining hostages, about 20 of whom are believed to be still alive. [delete]
“It will be one of the highest honors of my life to address the Israeli Knesset at this fateful moment. Our ties run deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements. We’re bound by the same beliefs, the same psalms, and the same sacred pursuit of liberty,” Johnson said in a statement.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana expressed admiration for Johnson.
“Mike Johnson is a great friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” he said in a statement.
“From the moment he was elected, he not only expressed his support through words but also took decisive action, even at the risk of his position, to support Israel in its most challenging moments. I hold him in great esteem, believe he is highly deserving of addressing the Knesset, and look forward to hosting him and hearing his words to the nation.”
Johnson’s speech also comes amid reports of rising anti-Semitism in the United States.
On June 1, a man in Boulder, Colorado, threw two Molotov cocktails at a crowd that was calling for the release of the hostages. The incident led to eight people being burned. The suspect, Mohammed Soliman, allegedly yelled “Free Palestine!” while throwing the projectiles. He has been federally charged with one count of a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin. He also faces state charges, including attempted first-degree murder.
The House this week passed resolutions condemning the incident.
