US House Speaker to make first overseas trip to Israel

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that he will pay his first overseas visit to Israel and will address lawmakers in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset.

His trip will commemorate Israel's founding anniversary and emphasize the importance of US-Israeli relations.

"My first trip abroad as Speaker will be a return to Israel to commemorate their 75th year of statehood. The US-Israel relationship is as important as ever, and I’m proud to accept @AmirOhana’s invitation as the 2nd Speaker of the House in history to address the Knesset," he wrote on Twitter, referring to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

Newt Gingrich in 1998 was the first House of Representatives Speaker to address the Knesset.

McCarthy will lead a bipartisan delegation on April 30 and his address to the Knesset is expected May 1.