The prospect that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might soon address a joint session of Congress is already stirring up a storm of controversy on Capitol Hill, where liberal Democrats – outraged by Israel’s conduct in the war with Hamas – they already promise a boycott.
The bitter conflict has been an ongoing headache for President Biden and other Democratic leaders, who are trying to strike a delicate balance between supporting America’s closest wartime Middle East ally and denouncing elements of Netanyahu’s military strategy, which resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. in Gaza.
The dynamics mirror those that accompanied Netanyahu’s last joint address to Congress in 2015. The Israeli leader, at the invitation of former President John Boehner (R-Ohio), used the elevated stage to attack then-President Obama over his nascent nuclear deal with Iran – an extraordinary rebuke by a foreign leader on the home turf of a sitting president that was widely denounced by Obama’s Democratic allies.
Nine years later, some of those same Democrats are expressing concerns that Netanyahu will once again use the platform to advance his own political agenda, even if it means going after the Biden administration.
“I boycotted his last visit. I certainly won’t participate in this one,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a Jewish Democrat who characterized Netanyahu as “a threat.”
“It’s not going to help us move forward – it’s a detriment,” she added. “If he comes for any reason, in any location, I won’t be there.”
The reaction comes three days after the International Criminal Court (ICC), an international body based in The Hague, accused Netanyahu and his defense minister of war crimes for their military operations in Gaza, following the Hamas terrorist attacks in October 7th. Among the charges, the ICC accused Israeli leaders of directly targeting civilians and using starvation as a weapon of war – allegations that only fueled liberal opposition to Netanyahu’s potential visit.
“He seems determined to exterminate the population of Gaza,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). “I don’t see what it would require…a joint speech to Congress by a man who has been accused internationally of committing crimes against humanity.”
“I think it would be inappropriate for me to come and turn my back on the Prime Minister,” Johnson added, “so I would probably decide not to attend, so as not to be disruptive and unduly disrespectful.”
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), former head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said the ICC charges have drained any credibility from Netanyahu, joint address to Congress or not.
“I don’t expect much from Netanyahu anymore,” Pocan added. “I barely consider him a world leader. I consider him a war criminal at this point.”
Other liberals are piling in, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are furious that President Mike Johnson (R-La.) is pushing for Netanyahu to speak in Congress but has refused that honor to Kenyan President William Ruto, who is visiting Washington this week.
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) called this discrepancy “an abomination.”
“We should have a real conversation about which nations we are paying some kind of respect and deference to and which we are covering when they are subject to investigations by the International Criminal Court,” he added.
“I don’t think it makes sense for him to speak to Congress at this time, especially given that the Speaker of the House denied the Kenyan president the opportunity to speak to Congress,” repeated Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Florida). “We haven’t had an African head of state address us for decades. So it’s a little disturbing, I think it’s also a slap in the face to our African countries.”
While Netanyahu’s speech to Congress appears likely to happen, the event is not set in stone. Johnson drafted a formal letter inviting the Israeli leader to the Capitol and sent it to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer weeks ago, but the New York Democrat has yet to sign it.
Johnson’s effort to invite Netanyahu to address Congress comes weeks after Schumer – the highest-ranking Jewish official in US history – criticized Netanyahu in a high-profile speech, calling for new elections in the country and claiming that the former conservative leader Israeli had “lost its way.”
But despite these comments, Schumer is poised to join Johnson. His office told The Hill earlier this month that the leader “intends to sign on to the invitation, the timing is being right,” and Schumer himself told reporters on Wednesday — after Johnson said he should sign the invitation or the House will proceed alone – which he supports having Netanyahu speak in Congress.
“I’m discussing this right now with the speaker of the House, and as I’ve always said, our relationship with Israel is strict and transcends any prime minister or president,” Schumer said.
On Thursday, Johnson said he hopes to see moves from Schumer “as quickly as possible.”
“Our teams are communicating and it looks like he wants to sign,” Johnson told reporters. “I hope this happens today or as soon as possible because we have to send the letter.”
Republicans, who have rushed to defend Israel’s conduct during the war with Hamas, are eager for the conservative Netanyahu to appear on Capitol Hill to defend his position. And House Democratic leaders, despite their reservations about Netanyahu and his far-right government, also welcome the Israeli leader.
“When world leaders come and speak to a joint session of Congress, it’s an important reflection,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said Wednesday. “We pay our respects. We participate. We hear.”
But the thorny issue of Israeli-Palestinian relations has long divided Democrats, pitting Israel’s staunchest defenders – who argue for the importance of maintaining a strong Jewish state in a hostile part of the world – against liberals who criticize its human rights record. of Israel.
Republicans have tried to exploit this dynamic on several occasions since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, and Democrats say Netanyahu’s speech is their latest offensive in that quest.
“This is obviously politically charged. I think it’s a political maneuver by the Republicans. I think the timing is atrocious for reasons I think we should all understand,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who noted that despite his criticisms, he plans to watch Netanyahu’s speech.
“Knowing the divisions within the Democratic caucus, the goal is to expose them,” he later added. “And as I have said thousands of times, the weaponization of Israel as a political tool is as dangerous as anti-Semitism itself.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
