Nearly 40 US Lawmakers to Boycott Netanyahu’s Address to Congress
Washington D.C., The Gulf Observer: Nearly 40 US lawmakers are expected to boycott an address to Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, scheduled for Wednesday. The speech comes in response to an invitation extended by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, stated, “Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the US Congress. On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned. As I stated last month, I will not be attending his address.”
Other Democratic senators who have announced their decision to boycott the address include Patty Murray, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz, Jeff Merkley, Dick Durbin, Tim Kaine, and Peter Welch. Van Hollen described the invitation as a “big mistake,” citing Netanyahu’s actions and rhetoric as detrimental to US-Israel relations.
House Speaker Johnson acknowledged the planned protests, noting, “There are a number of Democrats in the House who have said they are going to boycott the event, and then some others are going to protest.”
Among the 28 House members who intend to skip the address is Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, who strongly criticized the invitation, calling for Netanyahu’s arrest. “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,” Tlaib said.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also expressed her decision to boycott, stating, “He certainly hasn’t had an interest in bringing home hostage families.”
Other representatives who plan to boycott include Hank Johnson, Stephen Lynch, Jan Schakowsky, Nydia Velázquez, Mark Takano, Maxwell Frost, Jared Huffman, Jim McGovern, Jamaal Bowman, Delia Ramirez, Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, Rosa DeLauro, Jamie Raskin, Ro Khanna, Sara Jacobs, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Cori Bush, Ami Bera, Steve Cohen, Don Beyer, Greg Casar, Jim Clyburn, and Lloyd Doggett.
Israel has faced international condemnation for its ongoing military offensive against Gaza, which has continued despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. The conflict, now in its 292nd day, has resulted in nearly 39,100 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 90,000 injuries, according to local health authorities. The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and ordered it to halt its military operations in Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge.
