Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have decided to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s congressional address on Wednesday amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that was sparked by a massacre on Oct. 7.
As of this writing, nine Senate Democrats and nearly 40 House Democrats have publicly announced they will be boycotting Netanyahu’s first address to Congress in nearly a decade. While some Democrats like presumptive presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris are skipping the address due to prior scheduling conflicts, others like Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are objecting to the speech because of Netanyahu’s handling of the Israel- Hamas conflict, calling him a “war criminal” who is “committing genocide” against Palestinians. (RELATED: ‘More And More Violent’: Lawmakers Scared Pro-Palestinian Protestors Will Swarm Capitol For Netanyahu Speech)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 03: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of the United States Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol March 3, 2015, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress,” Tlaib said in a press release on Tuesday. “He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.”
Despite Tlaib’s harsh criticisms of Netanyahu, she has not publicly indicated whether or not she will be attending the address yet. Tlaib’s fellow squad members however, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rep. Cori Bush of Minnesota all publicly announced that they will be boycotting the speech. (RELATED: Benjamin Netanyahu Quietly Working To Win Trump Over Ahead Of Presidential Elections After Falling Out In 2020)
“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,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a X post on Tuesday. “40k Palestinians are dead. Hostages aren’t home. Netanyahu is a war criminal. I will be boycotting this address.”
“By bestowing Prime Minister Netanyahu with a joint address, Congress is not only continuing to green-light genocide; it is actively celebrating the man at the forefront of that genocide,” Bush said in a X post on Tuesday. “I urge my colleagues to boycott this war criminal and join us in the fight for a just and lasting peace that protects the right to self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis alike.” (RELATED: Students Sue UCLA For Allowing ‘Jew Exclusion Zone’ During Violent Pro-Palestinian Encampment)
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is also reportedly skipping out on the address.
“Speaker Pelosi will not be attending today’s Joint Meeting of Congress,” a spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday. “This morning, she will join a Members meeting with Israeli citizens whose families have suffered in the wake of the October 7th Hamas terror attack and kidnappings.”
On the Senate side, prominent Democrats like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois have also said they will publicly boycott Netanyahu’s address.
“Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the United States Congress,” Sanders said in a X post on Monday. “On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two- state solution should be roundly condemned. In my view, his right-wing, extremist government should not receive another nickel of U.S. taxpayer support to continue the inhumane destruction of Gaza.”
Although Netanyahu’s speech is mostly being boycotted by Hill Democrats, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky also said he will not attend the address.
“Today Congress will undertake political theater on behalf of the State Department,” Massie said in a X post on Wednesday. “The purpose of having Netanyahu address Congress is to bolster his political standing in Israel and to quell int’l opposition to his war. I don’t feel like being a prop so I won’t be attending.”
In 2015, 58 lawmakers skipped Netanyahu’s congressional address.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
