Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: We witnessed new, stricter stances from European countries since signing new agreement with IAEA
Saree: Our UAV force targeted the so-called Ramon Airport in the Umm al-Rashrash area in southern occupied Palestine
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our rocket force carried out an operation with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile targeting a sensitive target in the occupied Yafa area
Trump administration clears first Ukraine arms aid package paid for by allies: Reuters, citing sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman receives Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace
Wakim: Surrender is not in our dictionary, and it is not true that "Israel" can implement its project in Lebanon and the region
Wakim: The US is preventing the armament of the Lebanese army. The question is, why are the weapons it is handed over by the Resistance being destroyed?
Wakim: The Resistance is required to hand over its weapons to the [current] authority. The question is: Is this authority independent or subservient to America?

Democrats to Netanyahu: Liar with promotion campaign, war criminal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Social media
  • 25 Jul 2024 00:37
  • 2 Shares
5 Min Read

Netanyahu's speech before Congress enrages US Democratic lawmakers, as one confirmed that it was "the worst speech by a foreign official before Congress ever."

Listen
  • x
  • Bernie Sanders: Netanyahu 'liar, war criminal'
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is welcomed by US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., at the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP)

The speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Congress sparked anger among Democrat representatives in the United States, nearly half of whom boycotted the speech.

The number of Democrats who boycotted Netanyahu's speech on Wednesday was much higher than it was in his previous speech to Congress back in 2015, which then reached 58 Democrats, Axios reported.

Among the Democrats who expressed their dissatisfaction with the speech was Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, who confirmed in a post on X that "Israelis want him out of office. So he came to Congress to campaign."

Netanyahu is not only a war criminal. He is a liar.

All humanitarian organizations agree: Tens of thousands of children face starvation because his extremist government continues to block aid.

Israelis want him out of office. So he came to Congress to campaign.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 24, 2024

Sanders wrote that Netanyahu was not only a "war criminal" but also a "liar". 

He pointed to the humanitarian organizations agreeing that Gaza was facing starvation due to Israeli efforts to block aid into the Strip. 

The Senator was among dozens of Congressional members who skipped Netanyahu's address in protest over Israeli aggression in Gaza.

He has sharply criticized the decision to invite Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress. Sanders, a leftist independent, expressed deep disappointment with congressional leaders from both parties for extending the invitation.

"It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited – by leaders from both parties – to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress," Sanders stated. "Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend."

On her part, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at Congress today "by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States."

Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation in the House Chamber today was by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States.

Many of us who love Israel spent time today listening to Israeli…

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 24, 2024

Pelosi, who met with families of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip and boycotted the speech, went on to say that the families "are asking for a ceasefire deal that will bring the hostages home."

As for Progressive Democratic representative, Rashida Tlaib, she did attend Netanyahu’s speech, yet holding a placard that read: "Guilty in Genocide" and one that said: "War Criminal". 

In a post on X, Tlaib expressed her solidarity with the protesters who demonstrated outside Congress, denouncing Netanyahu’s speech.

I will never back down in speaking truth to power.

The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. Palestinians will not be erased. Solidarity with all those outside of these walls in the streets protesting and exercising their right to dissent. pic.twitter.com/TSbbXdv13U

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 24, 2024

She once again accused "Israel" of committing genocide in Gaza, vowing that "Palestinians will not be erased."

Related News

Europe stance toughened post Iran-IAEA agreement: AEOI chief

Colombia halts arms purchases from US over drug combat delisting row

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another Progressive Democratic representative, explained that "Netanyahu has lost so many people that he is addressing just a fraction of Congress."

Just so we’re clear, Netanyahu has lost so many people that he is addressing just a fraction of Congress.

When this happens, they fill the seats with non-members, like what they do at award ceremonies, in order to project the appearance of full attendance and support. https://t.co/CIboKUrkBq

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 24, 2024

"When this happens, they fill the seats with non-members, like what they do at award ceremonies," she added.

On his part, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to both chambers of Congress Thursday as “fundamentally dishonest".

“I thought it was fundamentally dishonest,” Nadler said on MSNBC. “He says he wants peace, but his political interest is to keep the war going as long as possible."

He added that Netanyahu keeps “putting new conditions” on negotiations to release the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.

“When he talks about the hostages, I don’t believe he has any interest in releasing the hostages because that would hasten the end of the war."

"That’s why you see hundreds of thousands of people in Israel protesting against him,” he added.

In early July, health authorities in Gaza revealed that at least 33 children have died from malnutrition, most of whom were displaced in northern areas, which have been subject to relentless Israeli bombardment since October 7. 

A group of independent human rights experts, commissioned by the United Nations, reported that the increased number of deaths from malnutrition among children is a sign of hunger spreading across the Gaza Strip. 

This comes as nothing Benjamin Netanyahu will say during his address to Congress would change the fact that he was incapable of defeating the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas, Yair Rosenburg wrote in The Atlantic.

Rosenburg maintains in his piece that 15 years ago, Netanyahu promised to defeat Hamas, something he has yet to accomplish. 

According to him, while Netanyahu is very effective at making grand announcements, his words usually have minimal effect beyond the brief spectacle he makes delivering them. He recalls Netanyahu's last speech before Congress in 2015 when he delivered a "masterful piece of political performance" lobbying against Barack Obama's looming Iran nuclear deal. 

Despite the wide political turmoil and media coverage, his address failed to disrupt the nuclear agreement as it went into force in January 2016, when the Republican-controlled Congress failed to assemble the requisite votes to block it.

Rosenburg cites that for over 10 years, Netanyahu has delivered several speeches in "Israel", the United States, and the UN, in an attempt to bolster his reputation as a leader, yet none of his words have been tied to any real accomplishments.

Rotenburg concludes by calling Netanyahu a "singular salesman for himself," describing his antics as an illusion of him being a senior "statesman". 

However, this illusion only succeeds because onlookers, especially the press, mistake rhetoric for truth and spectacle for significance, according to Rotenburg. 

"What matters are not the words Netanyahu speaks but the actions he ultimately takes. The rest is noise, and—like his address today—can be safely tuned out."

  • Bernie Sanders
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Congress
  • US Congress
  • United States
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
  • war on Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS