Key Democrats Skip Netanyahu’s Congress Speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, several high-profile Democrats have announced they will not be attending the speech. Notable absentees include Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, reflecting the increasing strain in U.S.-Israel relations amid the prolonged conflict. Harris, who is unable to attend due to a prior engagement in Indianapolis, is expected to meet with Netanyahu for a private discussion on Thursday. Meanwhile, Pelosi’s spokesperson has confirmed that she will forgo the address in favor of attending a separate meeting with Israeli citizens who have been directly impacted by the recent Hamas attacks and kidnappings on October 7th.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has made her stance clear by announcing on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she will be boycotting Netanyahu’s address. Ocasio-Cortez has strongly criticized Netanyahu, labeling him a “war criminal” and condemning the decision to allow him to address Congress. She expressed concerns about Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict and his refusal to address warrants from the International Criminal Court, characterizing the situation as a troubling moment in U.S. history.

The list of absentees extends to several senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Brian Schatz of Hawaii, who have opted out of the speech. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Dick Durbin have also chosen to skip the address. Durbin, while condemning the Hamas attacks as “unprovoked and cowardly,” has expressed deep concerns about Israel’s military strategy, which he views as excessively harsh and beyond acceptable levels of self-defense.

Rep. Thomas Massie, the only Republican who has publicly announced his decision to boycott, described Netanyahu’s address as “political theater” orchestrated to bolster the Israeli Prime Minister’s domestic political position. Massie criticized the speech as being more about advancing the State Department’s political interests than addressing the actual issues at hand.

The decision by some Democrats to avoid the address is influenced by their concerns about endorsing Netanyahu’s policies. They are wary of appearing to support Netanyahu amidst criticisms of his handling of the war, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties and has drawn international condemnation. Netanyahu’s insistence on continuing the conflict and his opposition to a two-state solution have raised doubts among Democrats about his commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution.

Despite these criticisms, some Democrats have chosen to attend the address. Rep. Jamie Raskin plans to be present but will first engage with families of hostages affected by the conflict, bringing a close relative of a hostage as his guest. Sen. Cory Booker has stated that he will attend the address out of respect for the U.S.-Israel relationship but remains committed to holding Netanyahu accountable for his actions. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has announced she will attend and will bring a guest, Hani Almadhoun, who has lost over 150 family members in the conflict, to highlight the human toll of the war.

In an unexpected twist, Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, will also miss the address. A spokesperson for the Trump campaign clarified that Vance’s absence is due to vice presidential duties rather than a deliberate boycott, though he remains a staunch supporter of Israel.

Additionally, four Democratic members of Congress—Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rep. Thomas Suozzi, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan—have sent a letter to Netanyahu. They have urged him to avoid partisan rhetoric during his speech and focus on presenting a viable path toward a cease-fire and the return of hostages to maintain bipartisan support for Israel.

Netanyahu’s invitation to address Congress was extended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, with the support of all House and Senate leadership, at the end of May. The speech is significant as it comes at a time when U.S.-Israel relations are under strain, with President Biden expressing support for Israel while also critiquing Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the high number of casualties in Gaza.

Following this address, Netanyahu will have spoken to Congress four times, surpassing any other world leader in the number of joint session addresses.

The address is set to begin at 2 p.m. EDT and will be available for viewing on several major news channels and platforms, including C-SPAN, CBS News, and Fox News.