Bipartisan lawmakers invite Israel's Netanyahu to speak before joint meeting of Congress



House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before a joint meeting of the U.S. legislature.

In a message, the lawmakers noted, "the horrific attacks of October 7th shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence. We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability."

'The existential challenges we face ... threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world.'

"For this reason, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, we would like to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress," the message signed by the four lawmakers stated.

"The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world. To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America's solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government's vision for defending democracy, combating terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region," the message concludes.

Last year, on October 7, terrorists perpetrated a heinous attack that included slaughter, rape, and kidnapping.

Israel has been waging a war effort in response, and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has been steadfastly supporting the Jewish State.

"Some members of Congress refuse to condemn this raw brutality. Calling for a Palestinian state or supporting the ICC request for arrest warrants—it's all a warped interpretation of justice, but also anathema to peace and bringing all hostages back home," a tweet on Fetterman's @SenFettermanPA X account states.

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Rep. Dwight Evans says he suffered a 'minor stroke'



Democratic Rep. Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania announced that he recently suffered a "minor stroke."

The congressman said that he anticipates being able to get back to voting in D.C. in around six weeks.

'The main impact seems to be some difficulty with one leg.'

"I wanted to let my constituents know that I am recovering from a minor stroke, and I want to emphasize the word minor. It was minor enough that I didn't even realize what had happened for a few days," Evans said in a statement.

"The main impact seems to be some difficulty with one leg, which will probably impact my walking for some time, but not my long-term ability to serve the people of Philadelphia," he noted. "I'm recovering at an inpatient rehabilitation facility and expect to be there about a week longer, followed by outpatient therapy. I currently expect to be back voting in Washington in about six weeks from now. I'm focusing on my healing and would ask for privacy during these six weeks."

Lawmakers including Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who suffered a stroke shortly before winning a Democratic U.S. Senate primary in the Keystone State in 2022, expressed well wishes in response to Evans' announcement.

"It's not an easy thing to face but know that we are all pulling for you, Congressman," a post on the @SenFettermanPA X account noted.

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"From years of working alongside @RepDwightEvans, I know that you can't keep a Philly kid down. I send my best as he makes a speedy recovery while already raising awareness and breaking down stigmas. I'm looking forward to welcoming him back to the dais in the very near future," Democratic Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts noted.

Earlier this week, Republican Rep. Greg Murphy of North Carolina announced plans to undergo surgery to remove "a base of skull tumor called a pituitary macroadenoma."

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Biden pressures Netanyahu for Israel to strike deal for return of hostages



As Israel wages war against Hamas in response to the heinous terror attacks last year that involved slaughter, rape, and kidnapping, President Joe Biden urged a ceasefire while speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pressing the foreign leader to have negotiators strike a deal to secure the return of hostages, according to the White House.

"He underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home," the White House noted.

"President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable. He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action on these steps," the White House indicated.

An Israeli strike recently killed multiple World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers. Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff LTG Herzi Halevi described it as a "mistake that followed a misidentification."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said in a post on X, "The president’s ultimatums should be going to Hamas, not Israel. Hamas resisted a ceasefire, brought about needless bloodshed, and refuses to release Israeli and American hostages. Biden should not undercut our ally amidst an existential threat by conditioning our support."

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has been unwavering in his support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas. "In this war against Hamas—no conditions for Israel," a post on his @SenFettermanPA X account declared.

"We must support Israel in its effort to protect and defend itself. Unlike the barbaric Hamas terrorists who intentionally target civilians, Israel goes to great strides to protect innocent civilians. Hamas started this war. Israel must now eliminate them," GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said in a tweet.

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'Hamas only deserves elimination': Fetterman continues to unflinchingly support Israel



Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is continuing to steadfastly support the nation of Israel as the Jewish state wages war against Hamas in response to the horrific October attack in which terrorists committed atrocities, including rape, murder, and kidnapping.

"Hamas is confident we're going to capitulate—but it's never going to be me. Hamas only deserves elimination. This war is the sum total of daily, raw tragedies. The vast majority of the harshest criticism & all responsibility for this war belongs to Hamas. Stand with Israel," Fetterman said in a tweet.

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The senator has been stalwart in supporting Israel and condemning Hamas.

"Hamas is not a group of 'militants' or engaging in 'insurgency'—just rapists and cowards hiding behind innocent civilians," a post last week on the @SenFettermanPA X account read in part. "Israel absolutely has the right to pursue and dismantle Hamas to surrender or neutralization. True peace is possible through this imperative," another post declared.

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Israel has acknowledged responsibility for a strike that killed multiple World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers. Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff LTG Herzi Halevi said that the attack was not executed with the intent of harming the workers and called it a "mistake that followed a misidentification."

President Joe Biden criticized Israel in a statement, saying that he was "outraged and heartbroken by the deaths" and that Israel has failed to do enough to shield civilians.

"Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians. Incidents like yesterday's simply should not happen. Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians. The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties," Biden said in the Tuesday statement.

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Menendez says he won't run in Democratic primary but suggests if exonerated, he'll run in general as 'independent Democrat'



Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who has served in the Senate since early 2006, announced in a video message that he will not file to run in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in the Garden State this year, but indicated he is "hopeful" that he will be exonerated this summer and then be able to run in the general election as an "independent Democrat."

In the video, Menendez, who has been accused of accepting bribes, claimed that he is innocent of the accusations against him. "All I can ask of you is to withold judgment until justice takes place," he said.

"From at least in or about 2018 up to and including in or about 2023, MENENDEZ and his wife, NADINE MENENDEZ, a/k/a 'Nadine Arslanian,' the defendant, engaged in a corrupt relationship with three New Jersey associates and businessmen— WAEL HANA, a/k/a 'Will Hana,' and FRED DAIBES, the defendants, and Jose Uribe—in which MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using MENENDEZ's power and influence as a Senator to seek to protect and enrich HANA, DAIBES, and Uribe, and to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar. Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value," according to a superceding indictment.

A number of Democratic lawmakers have previously called upon Menendez to resign from office.

In response to Menendez's announcement, a tweet from Democratic Sen. John Fetterman's @SenFettermanPA X account stated, "dibs on your parking space."

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'Demand Hamas to surrender': Fetterman continues speaking out against Hamas



Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is continuing to speak out against Hamas months after the heinous October 2023 attack in which terrorists slaughtered, kidnapped, and raped people in Israel, prompting the Jewish state to launch a war effort in response.

"At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to surrender and release every hostage," a post on the @JohnFetterman X account states. "Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe."

"Demand Hamas to surrender. Demand release every hostage. Demand to seize billions of dollars Hamas stole from Gaza. Demand those stolen billions to rebuild Gaza and compensate true victims- Israelis and Palestinians. Demand Hamas eliminated or permanently exiled," another post reads.

"I'll always take the word of our ally over a group of cowards that hide in tunnels behind civilians and hold children, women and elderly hostage since October 7th," Fetterman noted in another post.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been clear that Israel aims to wipe out Hamas, and Fetterman has previously expressed support for Israel's right to do so. "For peace & a 2-state solution, Hamas must be destroyed & I fully support Israel's right to do that," a November 2023 post on the @SenFettermanPA X account declared. "Hamas is anathema for the peace, Palestinians deserve better."

Fetterman took office last year after defeating Republican candidate Mehmet Oz in a 2022 election contest.

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