Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is suspending his journey to Israel this weekend, when he was supposed to deal with the Knesset, because the battle between Israel and Iran escalates.
Johnson was scheduled to seem earlier than the Knesset, positioned in Jerusalem, on Sunday, and develop into the third ever Speaker of the Home to deal with Israel’s lawmaking physique. However the Speaker is delaying his plans after Israel launched what it referred to as a preemptive strike in Iran, prompting a back-and-forth volley of missiles between the 2 nations.
“Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, Speaker Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset,” Johnson wrote in an announcement Monday, referring to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. “We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East.”
It stays unclear when Johnson plans to make the journey sooner or later.
Johnson introduced his journey to the Knesset final week, amid a wave of antisemitic assaults within the U.S., which the Speaker has strongly condemned. He would have adopted former Audio system Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in delivering remarks to the Israeli governing physique.
When asserting the journey, Johnson mentioned talking earlier than the Knesset can be “one of the highest honors of my life.”
The choice to postpone the journey and speech got here days after Israel late final week launched its strike concentrating on Tehran’s nuclear, missile and navy advanced. Iran retaliated, and the 2 nations have been buying and selling fireplace since.
Israel and different nations — together with the U.S. — have tried to restrict Iran’s nuclear skills. The Trump administration has mentioned the U.S. was not concerned in Israel’s offensive.
The Speaker expressed assist for Israel after the preliminary strike, writing: “Israel and the United States have been united, including in our shared insistence that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
“President Trump and his Administration have worked tirelessly to ensure that outcome. Unfortunately, Iran has refused to agree and even declared yesterday its intent to build a new enrichment facility,” he wrote on social media. “Israel decided it needed to take action to defend itself. They were clearly within their right to do so. Iran will face grave consequences if it responds by unjustifiably targeting U.S. interests.”
