230 Capitol Hill staffers call for boycott of Netanyahu's speech in US
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The call for boycotting Netanyahu’s speech highlights the increasing opposition on the left.
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This combination photo shows President Joe Biden, left, on March 8, 2024, in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, October 28, 2023. (AP)
Over 230 unnamed Capitol Hill staffers from 122 offices have signed a letter urging their bosses to protest or boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on July 24, Semafor reported on Wednesday.
The Congressional Progressive Staff Association letter read, “This is not an issue of politics, but an issue of morality. Citizens, students, and lawmakers across the country and the world have spoken out against the actions of Mr. Netanyahu in his War on Gaza.”
The letter highlighted the increasing opposition on the left to Netanyahu’s speech. Several Democratic lawmakers have announced plans to boycott the address, while others say they will attend solely out of respect for "Israel".
Republicans advocated for inviting Netanyahu following a speech by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the US, in which he strongly criticized Netanyahu.
During his visit, Netanyahu is expected to convene with Biden, as per sources to Politico, even though Biden has not yet formally invited Netanyahu to the White House.
This is happening as Netanyahu is currently scrambling to contain backlash both domestically and internationally regarding his policies on the war on Gaza, the ceasefire deal, the situation in the North, and the escalating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Netanyahu wants 'war of everyone against everyone': Former Israeli PM
Among his most vocal critics is former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who issued a warning to the Israeli Prime Minister in an opinion piece published by Haaretz last week.
Olmert wrote, "I am warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: The day is drawing near when arrest warrants will be issued against you for the crimes being carried out every day in Judea and Samaria [occupied West Bank] by Israel, with the support of its government, while you intentionally turn a blind eye to it."
Olmert acknowledged that the current far-right Israeli government, along with extremist settlers, delayed a ceasefire in Gaza and intensified actions in the North, with the goal of "annexing" the entire West Bank and al-Quds.
The former Israeli Prime Minister concluded by affirming that Netanyahu's government "wants a war in the North to advance its great dream – a war of everyone against everyone, mutual destruction, the expulsion of Palestinians and annexing the territories to Israel."
