The speaker of the US House of Representatives addressed the Israeli parliament on Monday, a rare honor bestowed on the top Republican in US politics at a time of fraught relations between the government of Israel and the Democratic president

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Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the speech as a nod to US bipartisan support for Israel as it marks 75 years since its founding. Critics say the platform given to McCarthy makes him only the second House speaker to address the Knesset, after Newt Gingrich’s 1998 targeted jab at Biden.

McCarthy

(R-Bakersfield)

spoke to the Knesset, greeted with widespread applause and a standing ovation, as lawmakers returned from a month-long recess. They are expected to resume fighting over a controversial plan, promoted by the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, to overhaul the judiciary.

The plan has divided Israelis and earned Biden a rare public rebuke. Amid the tensions, Biden has so far refused Netanyahu a typically customary invitation to the White House following his election victory late last year.

In a challenge to Biden, McCarthy said Monday he expects the White House to invite the prime minister to a meeting, especially with the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence. He said he would invite Netanyahu to speak before Congress if Biden does not.

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McCarthy’s visit to Israel was another sign of Israel’s gradual transformation from a bipartisan affair into a wedge-shaped issue in US politics. The trend goes back more than a decade, when Netanyahu began to openly side with Republicans against Democrats. At the same time, some younger progressive Democrats have become increasingly critical of Israeli policies, including its treatment of Palestinians.

McCarthy addressed the Knesset at a time when both Republicans and Democrats are vying for the presidential election. Republicans are trying to present themselves to voters, especially evangelical Christians, as Israel’s closest ally.

McCarthy and Netanyahu met face to face ahead of the Knesset speech and the Republican lavishly praised the Israeli leader, saying his leadership, character and courage inspire Americans.

The Californian said the US cherishes its unbreakable bond with Israel, promised continued funding for security assistance and said the countries must remain firm in our commitment that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon.

In Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby dodged questions over McCarthy’s suggestion that he could invite Netanyahu to speak before Congress apart from a visit to the White House. Kirby said he expected Netanyahu to visit the White House at some point, but said no visit was planned at this time.

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I think we’ve seen Speaker McCarthy’s comments and let’s let him voice those comments and whatever his intentions are, Kirby said. What I can speak of is the long-standing unwavering support that President Biden has given the people of Israel over many, many decades of public service.”

Before the parliament recess, Netanyahu had been under intense pressure to halt judicial overhaul plans, including large weekly protests, a labor strike and threats from military reservists to stop showing up. Biden joined in the criticism, saying Netanyahu cannot continue down this path.

Although Netanyahu and Biden have known each other for decades, their relationship has deteriorated since Netanyahu returned to office late last year after a brief hiatus as opposition leader. The Biden administration has expressed its displeasure with Netanyahu’s government, which is made up of ultra-nationalists who were once on the fringes of Israeli politics and now occupy senior positions dealing with the Palestinians and other sensitive issues.

Over the years, Netanyahu, a lifelong conservative with American-accented English and deep ties to the US, has not hidden his Republican leanings, even as he has spoken of the importance of keeping Israel a bipartisan issue. In 2015, he gave a speech to Congress against the Iran nuclear deal, which was widely seen as a contempt for the Obama administration, which negotiated the deal. He was accused of supporting Republican Mitt Romney’s candidacy for president and was one of the presidents

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Trump’s closest international supporters.

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That republican bent has tested ties with American Jews, most of whom lean Democratic.

Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations, said serious damage has been done to Israel’s ties with Washington and that Netanyahu himself has broken the bipartisan divide around Israel. The visit to McCarthy, he said, was a way for both Republicans and Netanyahu to stick with Biden.

Netanyahu thinks that if McCarthy comes to visit here, the White House will come under pressure to invite him. said Gilboa. Republicans fight over who is Israel’s biggest supporter.

The White House censure is another sore point for the embattled leader, whose legal scheme has plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises, sent his Likud party tumbling in the polls and damaged the 73-year-old leader’s legacy. affected.

The month-long parliamentary pause has allowed Israelis to take stock of tensions caused by the legal plan, which had progressed at a feverish pace during the previous session and reached a boiling point after Netanyahu dismissed his dissenting defense minister. dismissed.

The future of the plan is not clear. Netanyahu said he was temporarily suspending the attempt to change Israel’s legal system to allow the coalition and opposition to reach a negotiated compromise. But the talks don’t seem to yield much agreement and Netanyahu’s allies are urging him to continue if the talks fail.

He is also under pressure from the street. Tens of thousands of people in support of the overhaul filled the area near parliament on Thursday as a show of strength in favor of the law changes. Protests against the revision have been going on for 17 weeks, including during parliament’s recess, with equal intensity.

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Netanyahu is expected to continue to focus on less divisive issues in the coming weeks, such as approving a budget at a time when Israel’s economy is faltering and inflation is rising.

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encounter obstacles. He faces a court-imposed deadline in July that would require the government to enact a military bill over the near-general exemptions enjoyed by members of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community. Instead of serving in the country’s compulsory military like the majority of secular Jews, ultra-Orthodox men are allowed to study religious texts. Experts say this system keeps the growing community locked down and does not encourage its integration into the workforce, something seen as necessary to secure the future of Israel’s economy.

Netanyahu, on trial for corruption, and his allies say the overhaul is needed to rein in an interventionist justice system that has taken power away from elected politicians. They want to weaken the Supreme Court, let the government control who becomes a judge, and reduce judicial oversight of legislation.

Critics say the changes will upend Israel’s fragile system of checks and balances and jeopardize the country’s democratic foundations.

Goldenberg reports from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.