US senator says he would not have invited Netanyahu to address Congress

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Senator Dick Durbin said Tuesday that he would not have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.

"I would not have sent a letter of invitation," Durbin told reporters.

His remarks came after the top four Congressional leaders – House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- officially invited Netanyahu last week to deliver an address to Congress. The date is still unclear.

"I’ve been waiting for Prime Minister Netanyahu to embrace the two-state solution, which I believe is the only way to go forward in Israel," said Durbin, who is Schumer’s top deputy.

Until Netanyahu embraces a two-state solution, Durbin said: "I don’t think we can realistically expect this conflict to end."

Senator Bernie Sanders already said that he will not attend "war criminal" Netanyahu's speech.

"Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend," Sanders said.