US House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to visit Israel on June 22, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana confirmed on Wednesday.
This trip will make Johnson only the third US House Speaker in history to address the Knesset plenum, following Newt Gingrich in 1998 and Kevin McCarthy in 2023. Johnson commented, “This will be one of the greatest moments of honor in my life.”
Speaker Ohana praised Johnson, saying, “Mike Johnson is a great friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.” He continued, “From the moment he was elected, he not only expressed his support in words, but also acted, even at the risk of his position, to assist the State of Israel in its most difficult moments.”
The visit underscores a longstanding relationship between the two leaders, which dates back to 2019 when Ohana was serving as Justice Minister.
Their bond deepened further after Johnson’s election to his current role. Following the October 7 attack, Johnson invited Speaker Ohana for an official visit to Capitol Hill, where they met in February 2024. Ohana was accompanied by a bipartisan Knesset delegation and representatives of hostage families.
In his remarks, Speaker Johnson emphasized the importance of the visit, saying, “Our ties go deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements. We are connected by the same beliefs, the same chapters of Psalms, and the same sacred pursuit of liberty.”
He noted the gravity of the situation: “Today, the State of Israel and the Jewish people around the world are facing serious threats, and it is our moral duty to stand by our democratic sister. As terrorism and the vile anti-Semitic ideology threaten Western civilization, Israel must know that when America said ‘never again,’ we meant it.”
Looking forward to hosting Johnson, Speaker Ohana expressed great respect for him, stating, “I believe he is most deserving of this honor, and I look forward to hearing his words to the nation.”