Democrats are anticipating a large chunk of their caucus to sit out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu'saddress to a #joint#session Congress.
Why it matters:
It would represent a significant repudiation of the Israeli prime minister amid persistent Democratic objections to how he has conducted the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu's 2015 speech to Congress, which was a major snub of the Obama administration, was skippedby 58 Democratic lawmakers.
Many Democrats this year argued against inviting Netanyahu in the first place, accusing Republicans of attempting to divide their party with the speech.
Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Axios the #boycott "will be large" and that there are "a lot of people who are extremely upset he is coming here."
Jayapal said she has spoken to several lawmakers who went to Netanyahu's 2015 speech but said they will not attend this time.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the progressive ranking member of the House Rules Committee, told Axios he will not attend and said: "I wish it wasn't [happening]."
Several other progressives previously told Axios when the speech was first floated in March that they would sit it out.
Some Democrats who have tried to balance their support for Israel and their discomfort with how the war has been prosecuted are struggling with whether to attend, as Axios previously reported.
One House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a lot of members will "wait up until the very end to decide" whether they will attend, calling it a "very fluid, unpredictable situation."
The lawmaker said that whether there is a #ceasefire in Gaza by the time Netanyahu speaks will be the key factor, predicting anywhere from 50 to 100 Democrats will skip the speech if the war is still raging.
Another, senior House Democrat said it is "all being discussed" and that "a number [of Democrats] are going and #disrupting" the speech.
The other side: Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), a senior Progressive Caucus member, told Axios he is "hoping to have a conversation about it."
Israel’s Seizure of #Gaza Border Zone Strains Ties With Egypt
Israel defied ominous Egyptian warnings & took control of the #PhiladelphiCorridor, but the reaction from #Egypt, which wants to maintain its #security cooperation with #Israel, has been muted.
US congressional leaders on both sides have invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.
The letter inviting Netanyahu was signed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
According to a Senior Israeli Defense Official, the Order has now been given to the #IDF Northern Command and other Forces in Northern #Israel to Expand Military Operations against #Hezbollah in Southern #Lebanon.
#Netanyahu will set the region on fire before leaving office.
"Israeli sec. officials blocked an earlier attempt by Haaretz to reveal how then-IL Mossad chief Cohen tried to threaten then-ICC PROS chief Bensouda so she wouldn't investigate IL officials."
-K Roth
"Mossad chief threatened the top ICC PROS but Israeli authorities said if he published, he’d "suffer the consequences & get to know the interrogation rooms of the IL sec. authorities from the inside."
Israeli war cabinet minister #BennyGantz's #centrist party has proposed holding a vote to dissolve #parliament in a bid to bring about an early #election, his party said in a statement on Thurs.
Two more #US officials resign over #Biden administration’s #genocide in #Gaza, accusing the administration of lying about Israel’s obstruction of aid to Palestinians
IL’s surveillance/intimidation: covert op.-allegedly run by Yossi Cohen, a close ally Netanyahu. BN: sent “instructions” on “areas of interest” to monitor, & “obsessed,” by the intercepts of the PROS’ office comms. -not upholding justice -obstructing it.
Puts into perspective the claim, advanced by SOS Blinken -ICC PROS should've deferred to IL’s record of investigating/prosecuting its own war criminals rather than seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu/Gall-.
Pres Biden's advisors must see what Netanyahu is signaling. If the president doesn't make an about face on Israel soon, he doesn't just lose some young voters, other cohorts may stay home in Nov., thereby electing #TFG.
"A top Israeli security official says he expects 'another seven months of fighting' in Gaza will be needed to defeat Hamas."
Not enough swear words for how I feel about the US #genocide accomplice government & folks dumb enough to place all blame at #Netanyahu feet - when this genocide of #Palestinians has been the fucking goal of #Israel government for several decades & far before Bibi-Bloodbather had any influence in Israel.
Your country #USA fucking created #Trump. Your country ignored #neoliberalism leading up to Trump. Your country is focused on Trump, when he'll just be replaced by another poster #fascist face.
Now, an investigation by the Guardian and the Israeli-based magazines +972 and Local Call can reveal how Israel has run an almost decade-long secret “war” against the court....
...Israeli intelligence captured the communications of numerous ICC officials, including Khan and his predecessor as prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, intercepting phone calls, messages, emails and documents.
This was personally undertaken by the then head of Mossad who is now rising in Israeli politics.
This isn't just about #Netanyahu or a recent swing to extremism in Israel, these crimes have been ongoing for decades but are now blatant and impossible to hide, support by US/UK governments.
International Criminal Court, last Monday: seeks arrest warrants for Benjamin #Netanyahu and Yoav #Gallant for criminal responsibility in starvation of civilians and crimes against humanity.
International Court of Justice, Friday: “Israel must immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in Rafah which may inflict on the Palestinian group in #Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”
"If Netanyahu comes to address Congress, I would be more than glad to show the ICC the way to the House floor to issue that warrant."
~ Rep. Mark Pocan
Opposition to speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) invitation to Netanyahu has been mounting following ICC prosecutor Karim Khan's application for arrest warrants.