The buildup to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial speech Tuesday has kicked into high gear, with Speaker John Boehner comparing the Middle East leader to famed World War II British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Boehner, who invited Netanyahu without first getting the OK from President Obama, said he will give Israel’s leader a bust of Churchill to note that only those two foreign leaders have ever addressed Congress three times.
Boehner also said that interest is high in the speech, despite plans by Democrats to boycott the address that is expected to pan Obama’s nuclear negotiations with Iran.
From Boehner’s office:
Here’s a quick primer on what you can expect tomorrow:
• Speaker Boehner will welcome the Prime Minister to the Capitol by presenting him with a bust of Winston Churchill. Netanyahu and Churchill are the only foreign leaders to address a joint meeting of Congress on three occasions. A bust of Churchill can be found in the Capitol’s Freedom Foyer.
• After Speaker Boehner gavels the joint meeting to order, a number of dignitaries will be introduced before the Prime Minister, who will be accompanied by an escort committee made up of Republicans and Democrats.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu’s audience will include members of Congress from both parties, as well as guests in the gallery. Speaker Boehner’s guests include former Speaker Newt Gingrich and Elie Wiesel, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Gold Medal.
• Given the ties between America and Israel, it’s no surprise that interest in attending the speech is high. We’ve had 10 times the number of requests for tickets than there are seats available in the gallery. In fact, demand is so overwhelming that both the House and Senate have set up separate viewing locations, which are also ticketed events. (Don’t worry, you don’t need a ticket to tune in at speaker.gov/live.)
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
