House Speaker McCarthy in Jerusalem touts Israel-U.S. ties

In a speech in the Israeli parliament (Knesset) plenum, United States House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy touted Israeli-U.S. ties and pledged Washington would continue to support the Jewish state's security in the face of Iranian aggression.

In response to a question by i24NEWS, McCarthy denounced Iran's actions and said that normalization with Israel means a "better life and future for every person and country" in the region.

“What Iran does to complicate things is funding terrorism – Hezbollah in Lebanon, a civil war in Yemen, militias around the region, try to set missiles to shoot at Israel," he said. "That doesn't help anyone."

He continued to urge that the Abraham Accords – the 2020 U.S.-brokered agreement which saw Israel normalize ties with a handful of Arab states – would benefit every country in the region. 

"Everybody in the region looked at the benefits of the Abraham Accords on both sides, with economics, people, tourism, security, and safety. When you look at the region, everyone can benefit – be it by working together or sharing energy."

In what was McCarthy's first overseas trip as U.S. House Speaker, he said, “There’s no place I’d rather be."

“Israel’s rebirth is nothing less than a modern miracle and I thank you for it. Today, 75 years after declaring independence, Israel’s lights shine brighter than ever before.”

Before McCarthy's speech, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the plenum, during which he lauded Israeli-U.S. cooperation in national security, challenges in the region – particularly Iran, "which threatens not only Israel but also the United States and the entire free world" – and noted the importance of "expanding the circle of peace between Israel and Arab countries."

Ahead of the Knesset plenum, McCarthy met with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.

McCarthy and Netanyahu met at the David Citadel Hotel ahead of a larger extended meeting as part of a lunch with the bipartisan delegation the Republican leader has spearheaded to the Jewish state.

The California congressman and the Israeli president discussed "the strong partnership between Israel and the United States, and ways to deepen the various collaborations between the countries," a statement from Herzog's office said.

In a statement following the meeting, McCarthy thanked the president for his warm hospitality: "Our delegation is bi-partisan and aims to make it clear that there is no greater and deeper connection than the connection between our countries. There is no more democracy in the Middle East. There are only two countries that were founded in the pursuit of freedom while guaranteeing that all are equal."

"Sometimes there are difficult neighbors, but the Abraham agreements were significant milestones and we want to help and expand that. We arrived on the occasion of the country's 75th Independence Day, we couldn't miss it. You have developed an amazing country, especially when it comes to technology," McCarthy added.

The meeting between Herzog and McCarthy was held before a larger summit with the bipartisan delegation. 

McCarthy was only the second-ever U.S. House Speaker to speak in front of Israel's parliament, following in the footsteps of fellow Republican Newt Gingrich, who was the first to do so in 1998.

Ahead of his Knesset speech, the Republican was hosted for dinner with his Israeli counterpart, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. 

Ohana was recorded singing "Hotel California" at the dinner in McCarthy's honor.