President Barack Obama will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, May 20, the White House announced on Thursday.

"The leaders look forward to discussing the full range of issues of mutual interest to the United States and Israel," the White House statement read.

Netanyahu will speak to a joint session of Congress on Monday, May 23, and meet with key U.S. Officials and Jewish leadership on Tuesday.

"I received an invitation to speak before a joint session of Congress from my friend, Speaker of the House John Boehner, and I greatly appreciate this opportunity," Netanyahu said.

"It symbolizes the strong alliance between the American people, the American Congress and the American administration with Israel and the Jewish people," he said.

Netanyahu said he will present the "principles of our diplomatic and security policies" in his speech before Congress.

"We passed two years during which we stood steadfast on the principles that guide the State of Israel in order to preserve its security and so that the peace settlement will result in a secure peace, not peace on paper, but a sustainable peace," he said.

Obama leaves for a trip to Europe on Sunday, May 22.