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Stefanik to Denounce Biden, and Praise Trump, in Speech to Israeli Lawmakers

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The New York congresswoman will become the highest-ranking House Republican to speak at Israel's Parliament since the Oct. 7 attacks, in a move meant to capitalize on Democratic divisions.

Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York, is expected to deliver remarks in Israel on Sunday, as the Biden White House is urging Israel to end the war in Gaza.Credit...Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times

May 19 update: Representative Elise Stefanik addressed some Israeli lawmakers at Parliament.

Representative Elise Stefanik of New York will be the highest-ranking House Republican to address lawmakers at Israel's Parliament since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack with a speech on Sunday that is expected to deliver a forceful rebuke of President Biden and his fellow Democrats while presenting her party as the true allies of the Jewish state.

Ms. Stefanik's speech comes as the Biden White House is urging Israel to end the war in Gaza, and it builds on the Republican political strategy to capitalize on Democratic divisions over Israel's response to the terrorist attacks.

That strategy, which has played out in Congress for the past six months, has included a largely symbolic House vote on Thursday aimed at rebuking Mr. Biden for pausing an arms shipment to Israel and compelling his administration to deliver those weapons quickly.

Mr. Biden recently put a hold on military aid out of concern that Israel would use the weapons on Rafah, a crowded city in southern Gaza. The administration has also told Congress that it plans to sell more than $1 billion in new weapons to Israel.

"I have been clear at home, and I will be clear here," Ms. Stefanik is expected to say in her speech, according to a prepared version of her remarks reviewed by The New York Times. "There is no excuse for an American president to block aid to Israel."

Her remarks also appear designed to curry favor with former President Donald J. Trump, who has mentioned Ms. Stefanik, a former George W. Bush White House aide and staunch defender of Mr. Trump, as a potential vice-presidential candidate.

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