US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet in Washington D.C. later this month, a White House official stated on Tuesday, amid tensions between the Biden Administration and the Israeli government concerning the occupations’ war on Gaza.
“President Biden has known Prime Minister Netanyahu for three decades,” a White House official told Axios. “They will likely see each other when the prime minister is here over the course of that week.”
During his visit to Washington D.C., Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress on July 24, which US Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said would be “a very strong show of support to the Israeli government.”
Members of the Biden administration, including House and Senate Democrats, plan to boycott Netanyahu’s speech.
The Israeli PM’s address to Congress will take place in the middle of the presidential election campaign. Biden is already facing criticism due to his lackluster performance during the first presidential debate last week, resulting in Democrats during him to drop out of the race.
US Congress members to boycott Netanyahu’s speech
Far more Democrats could skip Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on July 24 than the 58 who did the last time he spoke, Newsweek reported.
On June 20, US Senator Elizabeth Warren announced that she would not attend Netanyahu’s presentation before Congress due to the “humanitarian catastrophe he created,” referring to the war on Gaza.
Warren slammed Netanyahu’s dismissal of US policy regarding a “two-state” solution while responding to reporters, saying, “He has also made clear that he does not support US policy for a two-state solution that will let the people of Israel and Palestinians develop their own nation self-determination, live with dignity.”
She further stressed the need for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and constructive negotiations to achieve a “peaceful solution” by “both parties”.
The visit to Congress comes amid high tensions between the occupation’s PM and Joe Biden, with the former recently accusing the US of withholding weapons.
Axios reported, citing officials last week, that the White House is concerned that Netanyahu’s rhetoric is deepening the tensions between the two allies.
According to the Associated Press, interviews with more than a dozen Democrats showed displeasure with Netanyahu’s planned address, with some believing it is a Republican attempt to split the Democrats.
Newsweek compiled a list of eight Democratic politicians who have pledged to boycott the address. They include Rep. Don Beyer, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Jim Clyburn, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Stephen Lynch, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
Beyer told AP that his attendance at Netanyahu’s address in 2015 was “among the most painful hours” he spent while in Congress. Beyer vowed that unless Netanyahu “becomes a champion for a ceasefire,” he would boycott the address.
Casar told Fox News Digital that he was not planning on attending and would “participate in whatever advocacy is being done to push for Netanyahu and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire.”
According to Clyburn, an alternative event was being planned to discuss the future of Israelis and Palestinians, telling AP that he was “going to stay away with a purpose,” adding that he was “not going to listen to his foolishness.”
Doggett, the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ deputy whip, told The Hill that Netanyahu should remain in the occupied territories to work for “peace” he has not supported in the past, citing that the “indiscriminate bombing that he has encouraged… has led to loss of lives that should never have happened.”
Johnson, of Georgia, told The Hill, “I won’t attend and turn my back towards him. So I’m just gonna stay away.”
Lynch reported that his reason for not attending was the “little bit of controversy” Netanyahu brought the last time he addressed Congress, citing that he is “inclined” not to attend due to Netanyahu’s “disrespect to the president.”
Schakowsky, who is Jewish, told The Hill that she refused to attend due to the “very negative role” Netanyahu was playing.
source: AlMayadeen
