Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, July 24. It’s a bipartisan invitation from leadership in both the House and Senate. While leaders are on the same page, this is a very controversial speech amongst rank-and-file members.
“I want you to know that there’s a number of Democrats in the House who have said they’re going to boycott the event,” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told the Republican Jewish Coalition.
The comment was followed by boos.
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Most, if not all, of the nearly 100 Congressional Progressive Caucus members could boycott the event. Sen. Bernie Sanders has called Netanyahu a “war criminal,” and Deputy Caucus Chair Ilhan Omar was denied entry into Israel by Netanyahu in 2019.
She said in response, “Trump’s Muslim ban is what Israel is implementing, this time against two duly elected members of Congress.”
Progressive staff members are also making their voices heard. In the House and Senate, 230 staffers anonymously signed a letter, obtained by The Hill, calling on their bosses to boycott the speech.
“Israelis have been protesting in the streets for months, decrying his failure to negotiate a ceasefire and release of hostages,” the letter stated. “This is not an issue of politics, but an issue of morality.”
The opposition to the address is emboldening pro-Israel Republicans.
“Listen, we’re going to have extra sergeants-at-arms on the floor, and if anybody gets out of hand, the speaker of the House will bang the gavel. We’re going to arrest people if we have to do it. We’re going to get the message out,” Johnson said.
“I am still astounded that Biden hit the brakes on the weapons shipments that Israel needs,” Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla. said. “We need to be putting bombs on foreheads, because that’s the only thing that Hamas understands.”
Congress members have been arrested on Capitol Hill in the past, often by choice. Previously, members have joined unpermitted protests and they’ve been willingly escorted out by police to show solidarity.
Ray Bogan:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress Wednesday, July 24.
It’s a bipartisan invitation from House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
While leadership from both sides of the aisle are on the same page – this is a very controversial speech amongst rank and file members.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La: “I want you to know that there’s a number of Democrats in the House who have said they’re going to boycott the event. Boos”
Ray Bogan:
Most if not all of the nearly 100 Congressional Progressive Caucus members could boycott the event. Senator Bernie Sanders has called Netanyahu a “war criminal’. Deputy Caucus Chair Ilhan Omar was denied entry into Israel by Netanyahu in 2019. She said in response: “Trump’s Muslim ban is what Israel is implementing, this time against two duly elected Members of Congress.”
Progressive staff members are also making their voices heard. 230 House and Senate staffers anonymously signed a letter calling on their bosses to boycott the speech.
“Israelis have been protesting in the streets for months, decrying his failure to negotiate a ceasefire and release of hostages,” the letter stated. “This is not an issue of politics, but an issue of morality.”
The opposition to the address is emboldening pro-Israel Republicans.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La: “Listen, we’re going to have extra sergeants at arms on the floor, and if anybody gets out of hand, the Speaker of the House will bang the gavel. We’re going to arrest people if we have to do it. We’re going to get the message out.”
Rep. Michael Waltz, R-FL: “I am still astounded that Biden hit the brakes on the weapons shipments that Israel needs. We need to be putting bombs on foreheads, because that’s the only thing that Hamas understands.”
Ray Bogan:
Members of Congress have been arrested on Capitol Hill in the past, often by choice. They’ll join a protest that is taking place without a permit or in an area that’s off limits to the public and willingly be escorted out by police to show solidarity.
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