Save Palestinians from Hamas, oust Bibi & his ultra-orthodox government allies in Israel who made sure Hamas stays in power in Gaza!
Save Israelis from Bibi & his ultra-right allies who are using the threat of Hamas to strip civil liberties and dismantle any checks & balances limiting their power!
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-Präsident Biden hatte seinen Vorschlag für ein Ende der Kämpfe im Gazastreifen als israelischen Friedensplan präsentiert. Doch Israels Regierung steht offenbar nicht hinter dem Vorschlag. Von Jan-Christoph Kitzler.
Netanyahu seeks to block inquiry into Oct. 7 attack by Hamas: report
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to hinder the appointment of members of an inquiry commission into the October 7 Hamas-led attack, Haaretz newspaper said"
"The newspaper, citing an official in Netanyahu’s office, said the Israeli premier “does not trust judges, fearing that they will retaliate against him because of legal reform,”"
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.
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.