Momentum grows behind Democratic boycott of Netanyahu speech

A growing chorus of House Democrats says they plan to avoid next month’s speech by Benjamin Netanyahu before a joint meeting of Congress, arguing that the Israeli prime minister’s handling of the Hamas War – and his repeated disregard for the approach President Biden’s preferred choice for conflict – demand a show of protest from liberals at the Capitol.

Some Democrats predicted the boycott earlier in the year amid speculation that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was about to invite Netanyahu to the Capitol to respond to Democratic criticism of the conservative Israeli leader. With the invitation now official, and the speech scheduled for July 24More and more progressive Democrats are emerging with a formal statement of their own: We won’t be there.

“I will not attend and will turn my back on him,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). “Then I’ll stay away.”

The disagreement between Netanyahu and liberals on Capitol Hill is nothing new. Progressive Democrats have long denounced Netanyahu’s conservative policies, including his harsh criticism of the Iran nuclear deal under former President Obama, which led to a boycott of the prime minister’s last speech to Congress nearly a year ago. decade. These old hostilities still persist, even though Democrats have found new reasons to insult Netanyahu for his military campaign in Gaza.

“He imported a bit of controversy the last time he was here,” said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.). “I thought it was disrespectful to the president, so I’m inclined not to attend.”

A boycott may not be the only way lawmakers can show their opposition to Netanyahu when he visits Washington next month. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who has served in the House since 1995, said conversations are ongoing about the best method to protest the controversial speech.

“There is still some debate about the best way to respond to his coming,” Doggett told The Hill.

“I do not intend to attend and/or will participate in any events that exist to express that we want this war to end and we want him and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire,” said Rep. Greg Casar. (D-Texas), a freshman member.

Liberals who boycott will create a stark contrast with other Democrats, who pledge to attend the speech to demonstrate a degree of solidarity with a wartime democratic ally.

“They are our strongest ally in the Middle East. He is obviously the leader they chose. And I respect the country very much and I will be there,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.).

Top House Democrats are already preparing for the internal divisions that will accompany the Israeli leader’s visit to the Capitol. Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said “it is his right and his ability” if members want to skip the event, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) who will attend, said each lawmaker will have to make their own decision before the speech.

“We all recognize that each individual member must make the decision to participate on their own based on what they believe is consistent with the district they represent,” Jeffries said last week.

There is some precedent for the current situation. Netanyahu faced a considerable boycott during his last speech to Congress in 2015, when he used his time in the House to smear Obama and the administration’s nuclear deal with Iran, marking an unprecedented attack by a foreign leader on American soil. Fueling the controversy, then-House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) coordinated Netanyahu’s speech without consulting the White House.

At least 58 lawmakers skipped that speech, according to CNNsome of whom are planning to avoid the event again, including Doggett and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), a Jewish Democrat.

“The role the prime minister plays is very negative and I don’t want to be there,” Schakowsky told The Hill.

“He needs to stay in Israel and work for the peace he has been unwilling to support in the past,” Doggett repeated. “Despite Hamas’ atrocities and all the evil that exists there, the indiscriminate bombing it encouraged led to loss of life that should never have happened. He didn’t prioritize the hostages, he should have done that instead of coming here.”

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday that rescued four hostages during an operation in central Gaza, a victory for the combative prime minister. That attack, however, also led to the deaths of at least 274 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, increasing pressure on Netanyahu.

Another notable absence in 2015 was that of then-Vice President Joe Biden who, instead of sitting on the dais behind Netanyahu, was traveling abroad.

This year, some Democrats predict an even greater show of opposition.

“I spoke to several members of the House and Senate, in fact, who went to the last speech, the last time he was here, even though they had a lot of questions about it, and they made it clear that they’re not planning on going this time,” he said. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who noted that she will not attend the speech.

One exception to this trend is Rep. Steve Cohen (Tenn.), a Jewish Democrat who skipped the 2015 speech but plans to attend this year.

“It was more controversial [then] because Obama was not included. It was kind of a breach of protocol,” Cohen said. “But I think I will, because, you know, it’s war. It’s a different situation.”

Netanyahu’s speech marks the latest flashpoint in long-running tensions within the Democratic caucus over Israel, with staunchly pro-Israel Democrats finding themselves repeatedly at odds with pro-Palestinian progressives outraged by the large and rising number of civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

That friction was evident on Thursday night, when Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) officially announced that Netanyahu’s speech would take place on July 24 — a statement that notably omitted the leader of the Senate majority, Chuck Schumer (DN.Y. ) and Jeffries. Last week, all four congressional leaders signed the letter inviting Netanyahu to the Capitol.

In a statement shortly after the announcement, Schumer – who made headlines in March after calling for new elections in Israel and declaring that Netanyahu had “lost his way” – alluded to the bitter tensions accompanying the Israeli leader’s visit to the Capitol.

“I have clear and deep disagreements with the prime minister, which I have expressed both privately and publicly and will continue to do so,” Schumer said. “But because America’s relationship with Israel is rigid and transcends one person or one prime minister, I joined the call for him to speak.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who led House Democrats for nearly two decades, said she would not have invited Netanyahu to speak to Congress if she still led the caucus, telling CNN “absolutely not, I think.” that this is wrong.”

She also criticized Schumer’s handling of the situation, but was keen to emphasize that the Senate leader – who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in US history – is a close friend of Israel.

“I respect his opinion, I don’t necessarily share it,” Pelosi said of Schumer.

In contrast, some of Israel’s staunchest supporters in Congress are making the case for why the speech – which they plan to attend – is important for the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv.

“I will say and I would say to my colleagues that this is about the United States and Israel, not any individual leaders, and a fundamental relationship, as you know, a fundamental ally for us in the fight against terrorism, including Iran and other countries Iranians. supported representatives like Hamas or Hezbollah or Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (DN.J.) said on MSNBC when asked if he will attend Netanyahu’s speech.

“I think listening to an important foreign ally like Israel is extremely important.”