US senator says he would not have invited Netanyahu to address Congress

WASHINGTON US Senator Dick Durbin said Tuesday that he would not have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.

"I would not have sent a letter of invitation," Durbin told reporters.

His remarks came after the top four Congressional leaders – House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- officially invited Netanyahu last week to deliver an address to Congress. The date is still unclear.

"I’ve been waiting for Prime Minister Netanyahu to embrace the two-state solution, which I believe is the only way to go forward in Israel," said Durbin, who is Schumer’s top deputy.

Until Netanyahu embraces a two-state solution, Durbin said: "I don’t think we can realistically expect this conflict to end."

Senator Bernie Sanders already said that he will not attend "war criminal" Netanyahu's speech.

"Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend," Sanders said.