U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to embark on his first major overseas visit as Speaker, traveling to Israel on June 22. He is slated to deliver remarks before the Knesset, making him only the third U.S. House Speaker to address Israel’s parliament after Newt Gingrich in 1998 and Kevin McCarthy in 2023. The visit is expected to include a face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Johnson emphasized that “our ties run deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements,” highlighting the shared historical, cultural, and ideological links between the two nations. His journey to the Middle East occurs against a backdrop of increasing complexity in the region, including Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, which has entered its 20th month since the Hamas-led incursion triggered the conflict.

The timing of Johnson's trip is particularly sensitive. Days earlier, five nations—the UK, Canada, Australia, Norway, and New Zealand—imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, citing their roles in inflaming tensions in the West Bank. Israel denounced the move as “outrageous” and vowed to respond during its upcoming cabinet meeting. Johnson’s presence in Jerusalem signals strong U.S. congressional support amid the diplomatic flux.

As the Speaker addresses the Knesset and meets with Netanyahu, his visit underscores the evolving U.S.–Israel alliance, balancing shared strategic interests with a delicate political climate marked by electoral uncertainty and mounting international scrutiny.