Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-day trip to Washington is poised to fully expose the deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans over US policy toward Israel – in addition to the division among Democrats.
Boycotts by Democratic lawmakers and pro-Palestinian activists against Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday will contrast with a Republican Party united in a rare area of solidarity.
“I will seek to anchor the bipartisan support that is so important to Israel,” Netanyahu said in remarks from Israel before departing Monday morning.
“I will tell my friends on both sides of the aisle that regardless of who the American people choose as their next president, Israel remains America’s indispensable and strong ally in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s relationship with President Biden is difficult, with the US administration repeatedly under pressure from its own party over its support for Israel’s war in Gaza, which left tens of thousands dead.
With Biden’s decision not to seek reelection, all eyes will be on Vice President Harris to see how she conducts meetings with Netanyahu. Harris is not expected to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, a sign welcomed by supporters of a tougher US policy towards Israel.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” said Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy. “Denying Netanyahu the kind of trophies he clearly wants is very important here.”
It is unclear where Netanyahu stands with former President Trump, who holds a grudge against Netanyahu for recognizing Biden’s 2020 election victory, with Trump responding “fuck you” in an interview with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Trump’s running mate, will miss Netanyahu’s speech and defer to the Republican presidential nominee for direct communication with the Israeli leader this week, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Several Democratic lawmakers in the Senate and House have announced they will boycott Netanyahu’s speech.
“Netanyahu should not be welcome in the United States Congress,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Monday of his decision to boycott the speech.
“On the contrary, its policies in Gaza and the West Bank and its refusal to support a two-state solution must be strongly condemned. In my opinion, your right-wing extremist government should not receive another penny of US taxpayer support to continue the inhumane destruction of Gaza.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was the architect of Netanyahu’s visit to the Capitol, which came as a quasi-response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (DN.Y.) high-profile speech at the which he said the Israeli prime minister “has lost his way” and called for new leadership in the country.
The comments by Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in US history, drew intense criticism from Republicans, who rushed to show support for Netanyahu.
“I think it’s very important for us to show solidarity and support for Israel in this time of great struggle, and we certainly stand by that position and will try to advance that in any way we can,” Johnson said in response. in March.
Congress’ top four leaders officially sent an invitation to Netanyahu in May, ending weeks of speculation over whether or not Schumer would sign the message. But in a sign of how divisive Netanyahu is, the announcement of a date for the prime minister’s speech came only from top congressional Republicans, omitting Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.).
The issue of Israel – and the war in the Middle East – has been a complicated one for the House Democratic Caucus, where staunchly pro-Israel Democrats have found themselves at odds with pro-Palestinian progressives.
The split presents a dilemma for Democratic congressional leaders besides Biden, tensions that will be brought back to the forefront at an inopportune time for the party as it tries to unite behind Harris as the new presidential nominee.
While Biden has criticized Netanyahu for the death and destruction caused to Palestinians in Gaza, he has not heeded calls from his party’s lawmakers to suspend major arms shipments to Israel as a result.
“This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel during the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service,” Netanyahu said.
National security advisor Jake Sullivan said that the expectation is that Netanyahu’s speech “will not look like 2015”, in reference to the prime minister, at the time, publicly speaking out against the then government’s policy of pursuing diplomacy. Obama-Biden with Iran.
“They said he intends to reinforce a set of themes and arguments that are not at odds or in contradiction with our policy, American policy,” Sullivan said during a talk at the Aspen Security Forum last week.
“Our expectation is that his speech will not look like what it did in 2015, but what it should look like in today’s circumstances, and that is how the US and Israel are trying together to face a terrorist threat, to coordinate together on the challenges regional issues that both our countries face and how we continue to work towards a ceasefire and hostage agreement.”
It is not yet clear how Biden’s decision not to seek re-election will guide his actions towards Israel and the Middle East over the next six months.
Biden has sought to lay the groundwork for a major, multifaceted Middle East agreement that culminates with ties established between Israel and Saudi Arabia — but it must begin with a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
American families of hostages held by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the US, are in Washington urging Netanyahu to announce in his speech to Congress that he is ready to sign the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The 120 hostages include eight American citizens.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersch has been detained by Hamas since he was kidnapped in southern Israel during the deadly attack that left more than 1,200 people dead, said Biden is likely more focused on reaching the ceasefire agreement now that he is free. re-election campaign.
“President Biden, the administration, the entire Congress has been incredibly supportive, helpful and as transparent as possible – I don’t think there are any concerns about President Biden’s decision not to run for a second term, in fact, I think he is so committed to getting these people home, specifically the eight Americans – but all hostages, that this allows him to focus more, laser-like concentration on that goal that he is so passionate about.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
