(FeaturedHeadines.com) US congressional leaders invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address lawmakers in Washington on July 24, amid Israel’s fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, some Democrats are opting to boycott Netanyahu’s speech, including Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Warren will join House Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hank Johnson, and Jim McGovern in skipping Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress. Netanyahu has created a “humanitarian disaster” in the Gaza Strip, Warren said.
Warren called on the Biden administration to restrict arms sales to Israel in an effort to advance peace in the region. Providing more weapons to Israel does not bring the conflicting parties closer to the negotiating table, Warren said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that it is up to individual Democratic members to decide whether they want to attend Netanyahu’s speech.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu appears to have the support of top congressional leaders, including Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The leaders invited Netanyahu to address lawmakers and share the Israeli government’s vision for combating terrorism and establishing a lasting peace in the region.
The speech will not be Netanyahu’s first to the US Congress. In 2015, Netanyahu delivered a speech that 58 Democratic lawmakers declined to attend, but Democrats are planning more than just a boycott of Netanyahu’s speech this time around.
Democrats intend to hold a range of events to counter-program Netanyahu’s remarks, including a potential press conference, a meeting with families of Hamas hostages, or a vigil. Some House Democrats are planning to attend and disrupt the speech as well.
Israel may be one of the United States’ strongest allies in the Middle East, but it appears as though some Democrats are not content with Netanyahu and his government’s handling of the conflict with Hamas, which was sparked by the group’s October 7 surprise attack on Israel. Perhaps Netanyahu will use his speech to try to win over such lawmakers, or at the very least bolster support with those already on his side.
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