Reports from Washington indicate that many elected officials are choosing to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. Dozens of lawmakers plan to boycott the address, which comes shortly after the International Court of Justice ruled Israel’s occupation of Palestine illegal and considered it apartheid. This decision follows a nine-month assault that resulted in the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Those who will not attend Netanyahu’s speech come from various political backgrounds, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of the Squad. Many of these officials, like Senator Dick Durbin, have criticized Netanyahu as a war criminal or violator of international law rather than addressing the systemic abuses against Palestinians by the Israeli state.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian in Congress, has been vocal in her boycott of the speech.
“Netanyahu is a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” Tlaib stated in a released statement. “It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.”
Similar sentiments have been expressed by Reps. Cori Bush and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with Rep. Ilhan Omar opting not to attend the speech and giving her tickets to an Israeli hostage’s family member. Meanwhile, Rep. Jerry Nadler and others plan to hold a counter-program with the families of Israeli hostages during Netanyahu’s address.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has also criticized the invitation of Netanyahu to speak before Congress.
As the situation unfolds, activists across the nation have gathered in Washington to demonstrate their opposition to Netanyahu and Israeli politics. The call for accountability and respect for international law in dealings with Israel continues to gain momentum.
Protesters have highlighted the ongoing violations of human rights by the Israeli government, a fact acknowledged even by the Biden administration. Tlaib emphasized the significant U.S. support for Israel’s actions against Palestinians, totaling more than $141 billion in weapons since 1948.
These concerns have prompted demonstrations and calls for change, urging Congress to reevaluate its support for Israel and prioritize the well-being of Palestinians. The push for a ceasefire, respect for international law, and restoration of funding for UNRWA has gained traction among various advocacy groups.
Former Israeli soldiers have joined forces with U.S. veterans to advocate for a shift in policy towards Israel, emphasizing the need to end the occupation for the benefit of both Israeli and Palestinian societies.
These voices stand united at the Capitol, demanding accountability and justice for all affected by the ongoing conflict in the region.
Hundreds of Jewish people, including more than two dozen Rabbis and rabbinical students from various parts of the country, gathered in the rotunda to call for a ceasefire and arms embargo on Israel.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler suggested that the demonstrators, who were holding signs with messages like “Jews for Ceasefire” and “Not in our name,” were “pro-Hamas.” The crowd included rabbis, and when asked if he believed they were also Hamas, Lawler stated that those who continually protest against Israel and support Hamas propaganda are indeed pro-Hamas.
Lawler, a Catholic, questioned the protesters’ Jewish identity and compared believing them to believing the death toll reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which has faced criticism for being linked to the Hamas government. Despite being corrected on false statements, Lawler continued to stand by his beliefs.
Several protesters shared that their Jewish background motivated them to participate in the protest. Tal Friedan, whose grandparents survived the Holocaust, highlighted the importance of ensuring that such atrocities never happen again to anyone. Jay Saper, whose family members perished in Auschwitz, emphasized the need to end the arming of Israel during the conflict in Gaza as a way to honor their ancestors’ memories.
The protesters expressed their love for the Jewish tradition as a source of inspiration for seeking justice and taking action against injustice.
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