Washington — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday afternoon, hoping to shore up support for Israel’s 10-month war against Hamas in Gaza. 

“We meet today at a crossroads of history,” he said. “Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life for the forces of civilization to triumph. America and Israel must stand together.”

Netanyahu is the first world leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times. He last addressed both chambers in 2015 as he sought to convince lawmakers to torpedo negotiations between the Obama administration and Iran over the regime’s nuclear program. 

• Netanyahu faces rage at home and in D.C. ahead of speech to Congress

His address coincides with a period of unusual upheaval in U.S. politics. Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, days before he officially became the Republican presidential nominee. President Biden ended his reelection campaign on Sunday after his party lost confidence in the 81-year-old’s ability to beat Trump in a rematch in November after a disastrous debate performance. 

“In this time of war and uncertainty, it’s important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow, and always,” Netanyahu said in a statement before arriving in the U.S. on Monday. 

Some Democrats are planning to boycott the speech and have accused Republicans of orchestrating the visit for partisan purposes.  

Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, who usually presides over joint meetings of Congress will be out of town. Next in line to fill Harris’ seat behind Netanyahu is Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat and Senate president pro tempore. But Murray is among the lawmakers skipping the address. Instead, Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, will preside over the joint meeting. 

Powerful Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi also will not be attending, a spokesperson for her office said Wednesday. “This morning, she will join a members meeting with Israeli citizens whose families have suffered in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack and kidnappings,” said Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will attend, saying on the Senate floor that “even though I disagree with many of Bibi Netanyahu’s policies, I will attend this speech because the United States’ relationship with Israel remains ironclad and transcends any prime minister or president, and we must do all we can to get our hostages home.”

Netanyahu will meet with Mr. Biden on Thursday afternoon at the White House to discuss a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, as well as the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security,” the White House said. The two leaders will also meet with the families of the Americans held hostage by Hamas. Mr. Biden returned to Washington on Tuesday after nearly a week in isolation at his beach home in Delaware as he recovered from COVID. 

Harris will meet separately with Netanyahu on Thursday, the White House said. 

Congressional leaders invited Netanyahu in May — a display of bipartisan unity amid deep political divides over the war across the U.S. Republicans have been unequivocal in their backing of Netanyahu, while Democrats have splintered over providing more support to the longtime U.S. ally. 

On top of the sharp criticism directed at Netanyahu’s government over the high Palestinian death toll, the prime minister faces growing domestic and international pressure to make a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a pause in the fighting. His critics have accused him of prolonging the war for political gain, which he denies. 

U.S. Capitol Police say they expect a large-scale demonstrations during Netanyahu’s visit and the agency has beefed up security around the Capitol. About 200 protesters were arrested Tuesday for demonstrating inside a congressional building, according to Capitol police. 

Trump initially announced he was meeting with Netanyahu on Wednesday at Mar-a-Lago, but later said the meeting was rescheduled to Friday at the prime minister’s request. 

Kristin Brown, Cristina Corujo, Alan He and Nikole Killion contributed reporting. 

Caitlin Yilek

Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.