In Rare Move, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to Address Israeli Knesset

In a highly unusual diplomatic gesture, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson will visit Israel later this month and deliver a formal address before the Israeli Knesset. The speech is scheduled for Sunday, June 22, during a special parliamentary session in Jerusalem.

"This will be one of the greatest honors of my life to speak before the Knesset of Israel at this critical moment," Johnson said in his official announcement. "Our ties go far beyond security partnerships and economic agreements. We are united by shared faith, shared scripture, and a shared yearning for liberty."

A Message of Moral Clarity

The planned address comes at a sensitive juncture for Israel’s international standing, amid ongoing regional instability and rising global tensions surrounding the war in Gaza. Johnson emphasized the moral obligation of the United States to stand by Israel and the Jewish people.

"In the face of grave threats to Israel and Jews worldwide, America must stand with our democratic sister nation," Johnson declared. "When America said, ‘Never Again,’ we meant it."

The visit is seen by both governments as a powerful affirmation of the U.S.-Israel alliance, especially amid growing partisan friction in Washington over the scope and scale of American support for Israel's war effort.

Warm Welcome from Israeli Leadership

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana welcomed the announcement, praising Johnson as a true and courageous ally.

"Mike Johnson is a genuine friend of Israel and the Jewish people," Ohana stated. "Since his election, he has not only voiced his support in words but has taken bold and often risky actions to defend Israel during its most difficult times. I consider him a worthy and honorable guest, and I look forward to hearing his remarks before the nation."

This upcoming address will mark one of the rare occasions in which a U.S. House Speaker is formally invited to speak before the full Knesset a platform typically reserved for heads of state or historic figures.