McCarthy Arrives in Israel on 1st International Visit as Speaker

On April 30, U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) arrived in Israel with a 16-member bipartisan congressional delegation. The visit was in celebration of Israel’s 75th year of statehood and to reaffirm the special bond between the two nations.

A Special Invitation

McCarthy’s visit was at the invitation of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who welcomed the delegation and expressed his desire to strengthen the connection between the two legislatures. Ohana also thanked McCarthy for choosing the Knesset to be the first parliament in the world to visit.

A Strong Partnership

McCarthy stated, “It is an honor for us to join you in Jerusalem to celebrate the independence of Israel and to reaffirm the special bond between our nations.” He also added, “In the next 75 years, our important partnership promises to be even stronger than the first 75 years.”

A Historic Visit

McCarthy’s visit to the Knesset was historic, as he became the second Speaker of the House in history to address the Israeli parliament. The first was House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) who spoke before the Knesset 25 years ago, in May 1998.

A Supporter of Israel

McCarthy has been a strong supporter of Israel and has publicly voiced his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He referred to Netanyahu as an Israeli patriot, statesman, and most importantly, a great friend of the USA.

Judicial Reform

During his visit, McCarthy also commented on the ongoing efforts by Netanyahu’s government to reform the judicial system in Israel, which has faced criticism both inside and outside the country. In March, Netanyahu rejected pressure from President Joe Biden to halt the judicial reform that has sparked large protests across the country, both in support of the reform and against it.

Conclusion

McCarthy’s visit to Israel was a significant event that reaffirmed the strong bond between the United States and Israel. It was also an opportunity for McCarthy to express his support for Israel and its government, as well as to address important issues such as judicial reform.