The US House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, voiced in Tel Aviv dissatisfaction with US President Joe Biden for failing to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.
The Speaker said if Biden does not invite Netanyahu to Washington soon, he'll invite "the prime minister to come to meet with the House," reported Israel Hayom.
McCarthy, who represents the Republican Party, is considered one of the most influential figures in the US politics. He indicated that the exact visit date has yet to be determined.
"If that [a visit to the White House] doesn't happen, I'll invite the prime minister to meet with the House. He's a dear friend, as a prime minister of a country that we have our closest ties with," McCarthy said.
"President Biden hasn't talked to me about the debt ceiling for the last 80 some days, so I think he, the prime minister, might be in good company if he treats me the same way," he told the Israeli outlet.
McCarthy arrived in Israel Sunday at the invitation of the Israeli Speaker, Amir Ohana, who indicated upon his reception at the airport that the US guest chose the Knesset as the first parliament to visit since entering office.
He chaired a delegation of 16 additional bipartisan representatives, and Netanyahu hosted them for lunch at the David Hotel.
Later, the presidential office issued a statement announcing that the President, Isaac Herzog, discussed with the House Speaker the strong partnership between Israel and the United States.
The statement hailed the US as Israel's "very close ally."
McCarthy told Herzog that the bipartisan representation on the trip is meant to underscore "that there are no greater and deeper relations between countries than between ours."
In the evening, McCarthy addressed the Knesset, saying that the Abraham Accords were milestones and the administration "should get further behind the Abraham Accords and grow them even bigger."
Ohana hosted a dinner in honor of McCarthy on Sunday night. After the main course, songs were played.
During the song "Hotel California," Knesset Speaker took the stage with his electric guitar and played the Eagles' classic.
