More than two dozen Democrats in the House and the Senate have said they plan to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Wednesday’s speech at Congress over Israel’s genocide war in Gaza according to the Quds News Network.
Netanyahu will deliver an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. He will also meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday afternoon, according to the prime minister’s office and the White House, followed by a meeting with former president Donald Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who as the president of the Senate would normally preside over such an event, will not attend.
Palestinian-American Representative Rashida Tlaib called Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress “a celebration of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians”.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, said that “Netanyahu is a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.”
She further remarked, “Make no mistake: This event is a celebration of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. It is a sad day for our democracy when my colleagues will smile for a photo op with a man who is actively committing genocide. It is hypocritical to claim concern about the massive death toll of innocent civilians, then turn around and welcome the person responsible for these war crimes to our Capitol. Their silence is betrayal, and history will remember them accordingly. Our government must stop supporting and funding this genocide now.”
“It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress,” said US Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a Tuesday post on X, referring to Netanyahu.
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders condemned Netanyahu’s address to the Congress, calling him a “war criminal” presiding over a “rightwing extremist government”.
“Tomorrow will be unique in bringing Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress,” said Sanders on Tuesday. “It will be the first time in American history that a war criminal has been given that honor.”
Representative Jerry Nadler of New York said on Tuesday he would attend the speech, but still lashed out against the Israeli prime minister, calling him the “worst leader in Jewish history”.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durban of Illinois said he would not stand by and “cheer Netanyahu” given his handling of the Gaza war and his refusal to consider any peace plan.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland took to the Senate floor on Tuesday and accused Netanyahu of thwarting peace and the creation of a two-state resolution.
“Netanyahu and his extremist allies like [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich and [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir want the land of the West Bank to be fully incorporated into the state of Israel,” he said.
“They want to complete their messianic vision of a greater Israel that includes all of the West Bank. Indeed, that goal is plainly written out for all to see in their coalition government platform.”
Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon accused Netanyahu of killing women and children in Gaza and inflicting starvation on that enclave. He has prioritized his own political survival over the release of the hostages and “should not have a platform before Congress.”
Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina is also expected not to attend, according to a statement he gave to the Associated Press.
The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who is not attending, either, said Tuesday that she does not think Netanyahu is interested in peace in the Middle East.
“He certainly hasn’t had an interest in bringing home hostage families,” Jayapal said. “I think he’s — he may be shilling for Donald Trump, but, you know, that is at the cost of security for Israel, it’s at the cost of security for the Palestinians, and it’s at the cost of peace, more broadly, in the Middle East and certainly at the cost of bringing home the families of the hostages that are there, including the eight American hostages that still remain.”
Rep. Maxwell Frost, the first Generation Z member of Congress, will boycott the speech, as well. “I detest [Netanyahu’s] leadership. I think what’s going on in Gaza is horrible,” Frost said Tuesday.
“He opposes a two-state solution, which is what we are for as a country — it’s the policy of our country. I don’t think he should have been invited in the first place.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren said in June she will not attend the speech, adding the “United States needs to be using its leverage, including restrictions on arm sales, as a way to advance a push toward peace in the Middle East.”
This article is reprinted from the Quds News Network.
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