John Boehner to visit Israel
House Speaker John Boehner plans to visit Israel during the House's Spring recess, his office said Friday.
Boehner "looks forward to visiting the country, discussing our shared priorities for peace and security in the region, and further strengthening the bond between the United States and Israel," the speaker's office said.
The House's Spring recess is March 30 - April 13.
The announcement of Boehner's visit comes just after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's re-election. Earlier in the month, Netanyahu delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress. The speech caused some controversy since Boehner invited Netanyahu to address Congress without consulting the White House about it.
Boehner on Thursday told reporters that he was happy Netanyahu made the appearance.
"I invited the Prime Minister of Israel to come because we have grave threats facing our nation," he said. Netanyahu "was in a perfect position to help describe that threat to the American people, and for that matter, the rest of the world."
Boehner's trip to Israel was planned before the Israeli election, and also long before Netanyahu's speech to Congress, according to the speaker's office. The speaker has planned to visit Israel because it is a critical U.S. ally in the region.
