Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress, but he comes to the United States at an exceptionally perilous moment for Israel, our own country, and the world at large.

This week, at an event at the Hudson Institute, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson laid out a rather direct yet largely comprehensive response to a question about American support for Israel:

A series of dramatic events unfolded in recent days that have had a slight, but noticeable impact on the dynamics surrounding the war in Gaza. First, there was a daring hostage rescue. Then, there were reports of American negotiations with Hamas separate from Israel. Shortly thereafter, The Wall Street Journal released correspondence by Hamas’s Gaza leader and the man behind the 10/7 massacre, Yahya Sinwar.

With Hezbollah burning thousands of acres of Israeli land in the north and reports of a hostage/cease-fire deal filled with half-truths and misinformation, a lot is taking place right now in the region. But we begin this week with the news that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has accepted an invitation to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress.

Over the past week, we witnessed several European nations (with somewhat dubious relevant histories) formally recognize “Palestine.” We’ve also learned that Iran has continued to add to its quantity of near-weapons-grade uranium. But first, fighting in southern Gaza has intensified, so we’ll start there. 

On Sunday, Iran’s President, Foreign Minister, and other regime officials came to an abrupt stop on the side of a mountain, which resulted in their deaths.  On Monday, prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. On Tuesday, a poll was released showing that the American people stand with Israel by a wide margin. Let’s dig in.

This week Israel marked both her Memorial Day and Independence Day. In Israel, first, they remember the fallen; only afterward do they celebrate the liberty ensured by the sacrifice of their best and bravest. In this week’s edition of the Action Update, we look at the current state of the latest war for Israel’s survival – 76 years after its modern-day founding.