Democratic Lawmakers Organize Alternative Events In Opposition To Netanyahu’s Congressional Address

Several Democratic lawmakers participated in a series of counter-programming events instead of attending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Wednesday address to Congress, underscoring the deep divisions within the party over Israel’s Gaza War policies.

The event, “Peace is Possible: An Alternative Vision for Israel and Palestine,” hosted by various progressive nonprofit groups including the Center for American Progress and Middle East Democracy Center, will feature peace leaders from both Israel and Palestine.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, delivered the opening remarks at the event.

Meanwhile, Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts) and Greg Casar (D-Texas) hosted a Zoom news conference with progressive allies to urge the Biden administration and Congress to impose an arms embargo on Israel, arguing that supplying weapons contributes to human rights violations.

Senior House Democrats, including Reps. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) and Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) met with the families of Israeli hostages taken during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

The events, scheduled to coincide with Netanyahu’s address to Congress, align with broader progressive Democratic efforts to boycott support for the Israel war amid growing criticism of Netanyahu’s war policies.

Around 80 House Democrats and at least six Democratic senators skipped Netanyahu’s Wednesday speech.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California), who skipped the address, said in a statement, “I just don’t think we should be listening to a one-way lecture from Netanyahu when he’s had a failed strategy on the board.”

Similarly, Rep. Illhan Omar (D-Minnesota) stated in an interview that she gave her tickets to the families of the hostages instead of attending the address.

In a fiery statement, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan), the sole Palestinian American in Congress, accused Netanyahu of being “a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”

“It’s 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 stated.

Even some Jewish Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-California), skipped Netanyahu’s speech.

“I’m not attending the Netanyahu address because I don’t want to condone his behavior over the last 10 months,” said Jacobs. “I think Israel’s security is incredibly important. I have family who live there. But what Netanyahu has done, now he has prosecuted this war, what he has been doing in the West Bank does not actually make Israel any safer.”

Before Netanyahu’s arrival, Jewish Voice for Peace organized a 300-person sit-in to protest his speech and congressional leaders’ decision to meet with him.

“This is a war criminal that nobody, not a single one of our elected officials should be meeting with Netanyahu,” stated VFP communications director Sonya Meyerson-Knox in a statement. “And in fact, what we are demanding from our elected officials is to actually do everything they can to get to a ceasefire to save lives.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democrat presidential nominee, did not preside over the Senate during Netanyahu’s address, as she was be attending an event in Indianapolis. However, she is expected to meet with Netanyahu separately later this week.

Senate Pro Tempore Parry Murray (D-Washington) also declined to preside over the speech, passing the role to Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin (D-Maryland).