Netanyahu Unwelcome: Jewish Leaders and Allies Demand Change

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | July 23, 2024 — “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend.”

This is how Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), one of the most prominent Jewish members of Congress, summarized his decision to skip Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.

Unfortunately, right-wing organizations like AIPAC and the ADL have co-opted the voice of the Jewish community, and they have used their platform to ensure all those who oppose Israeli policies are tarred as antisemitic. In doing so, they insist that the US national security apparatus must stand up in their defense– often at the expense of our community.

However, a closer look at the political landscape shows just how detached their unyielding support of Netanyahu is from the mainstream.

• J Street’s president, Jeremy Ben-Ami, described Netanyahu’s invitation to address Congress an “undeserved reward”.
• Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) a Jewish member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee shared his decision to skip the address, describing it as “political rhetoric that will do nothing to bring peace in the region”.
• Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), a Jewish Democrat shared “I have always supported Israel and I believe that for Israel to thrive as a just and secure democracy, Netanyahu and his coalition of extremist cronies must go. Rather than inviting Netanyahu to the United States Capitol, we should focus on achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East– one that values the lives, dignity, and right to self-determination of Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
• The New Israel Fund, in a signed letter explaining their position in the address “… we wish to say loud and clear: Israel’s sitting Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is not welcome here.” The letter went on to cite that 75% of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign.
• U.S. Capitol Police arrested 250 Jewish activists protesting against U.S. military support for Israel at the U.S. Capitol.

Vice-President Kamala Harris, who as President of the Senate would customarily attend such an address, will not be in attendance. Our hope is that as the presumptive Democratic nominee, she recognizes that blind support of AIPAC’s position silences the growing number of Jewish voices and even many supporters of Israel who are calling for a ceasefire, a halt to weapons sales, and an end to the unrelenting support of Netanyahu’s destructive agenda. Even President Biden has been increasingly isolated in his approach of near total support of Netanyahu’s genocide, which is partially why he had to end his campaign for President. 

We commend those lawmakers who are boycotting Netanyahu’s address and call on those Members of Congress who remain undecided and who recognize the truth to stand with them in their opposition to providing a platform to a war criminal.

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