Netanyahu To Address Congress
Reuters reports: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would set forth his view of a future Middle East peace in an address to Congress on Tuesday and reaffirmed Israel would never return to its old, narrow borders. ‘I will outline a vision for a secure Israeli-Palestinian peace,’ the right-wing Israeli leader said on Monday about his planned address to a joint meeting of Congress. ‘I intend to speak the unvarnished truth. Now more than ever what we need is clarity.'”
Obama’s Day Ahead
The President and First Lady participated in an arrival ceremony at Buckingham Palace at 12:20 p.m. BST (7:20 a.m. ET), and had lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at 12:25 p.m. BST. They will view the Portrait Gallery at 2 p.m. BST. They will tour Westminster Abbey at 3 p.m. BST, and President Obama will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony. They will arrive at 10 Downing Street at 3:45 p.m. BST. Obama will meet with Opposition Leader Ed Miliband at 5 p.m. BST. Then at 8:30 p.m. BSt, the President and First Lady will attend a dinner hosted by the Queen.
Biden’s Day Ahead
At 11 a.m. ET, Vice President Biden will attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress. Afterwards, he will attend a lunch hosted by Speaker John Boehner in honor of Prime Minister Netanyahu. At 3 p.m. ET, he will hold a meeting of the bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress to continue work on a legislative framework for comprehensive deficit reduction.
Expectations Modest As Debt Talks Resume
Reuters reports: “Talks to avert a potentially catastrophic debt default resume Tuesday after signs Republicans might soften their stance over a key obstacle to a deal with Democrats, but hopes for a breakthrough remain slim. Vice President Joe Biden leads senior lawmakers in their third round of negotiations to lift the $14.3 trillion debt limit before an August 2 deadline for action…No one expects anything to happen fast, but a top White House official said he saw reason for optimism if the talks focus on areas of agreement and set aside more controversial issues.”
Parties Preparing For N.Y. Special Spin
Roll Call reports: “The political world will be watching western New York today. It is there, along the suburbs of Buffalo and Rochester, that the stage is set for a GOP special election upset in the once-sleepy race to succeed former Rep. Chris Lee (R). Republicans are preparing themselves for a victory by Democrat Kathy Hochul over Republican Jane Corwin in a district that is among the most conservative in the state. And fair or not, the race has been framed as the country’s first unofficial referendum on Republicans’ plan to reshape Medicare. This referendum, however, could send ripple effects deep into 2012.”
GOP Sees Israel As Wedge Issue
The Hill reports: “Republican strategists say President Obama’s call for peace negotiations based on Israel’s 1967 borders will help them drive a wedge between Jewish voters and the Democratic Party. GOP strategists acknowledged that their party for years has tried with little success to split Jewish voters and donors from Democratic candidates. This time is different, they say, because of perceptions by some that Obama is more concerned with the American image on the Arab street than staunchly defending Israel in its standoff with Palestinian leadership.”
