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Defiant Netanyahu to face US Congress amid Biden’s withdrawal from election race
- While US Republicans pressed to invite Israeli PM Netanyahu to address Congress, he has lost support among Democrats
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![Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, on July 17. Photo: AP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/21/5ee12325-6941-4b28-8e16-a2162ccf1e77_53523eaf.jpg?itok=ULzEeYo2&v=1721530908)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to deliver a landmark speech to the US Congress on Wednesday, a visit that has now been thrown off balance by President Joe Biden’s decision on Sunday not to seek re-election.
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Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving premier, will become the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of the two chambers four times – pulling ahead of Britain’s Winston Churchill on three.
But analysts say the Gaza war since the October 7 Hamas attacks has created worrying tensions between Israel and the United States, its main military and diplomatic backer, with Washington pushing Israel to seek a ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Netanyauhu’s office has announced that the two men would meet on Tuesday.
![US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel in October. Photo: Reuters US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel in October. Photo: Reuters](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/22/d609ccd8-3939-4ca6-a5da-631840bbbf49_ce62344b.jpg)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was one of the first world leaders to react to Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he would not be seeking re-election as president. He thanked Biden “for his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people”.
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