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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last addressed Congress almost a decade ago, at least 58 Democrats skipped his speech.
But far more Democrats could boycott Netanyahu's address to lawmakers on July 24 as a show of protest over the way Israel has conducted military operations in Gaza. More than 37,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli in the past nine months, The Associated Press reported, citing the Gaza Health Ministry. The war erupted after Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and seized around 250 hostages.
Netanyahu's visit comes amid tensions between himself and Joe Biden. The president has supported Israel's offensive, but recently been more critical and withheld the shipment of some weapons in May. Netanyahu last week accused the Biden administration of again withholding weapons—a claim that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied.
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The AP reported that interviews with more than a dozen Democrats revealed the discontent over Netanyahu's upcoming speech, and how some feel it is a Republican ploy to divide Democrats.
Some Democrats have said they will attend Netanyahu's speech to show support for Israel, but others are clear that they won't be attending.
The House minority leader told reporters last week that he would attend Netanyahu's speech, but said that "all of us recognize that every individual member has to make that decision to participate on their own based on what they believe is consistent with the district that they represent."
Newsweek rounds up Democratic lawmakers who have said they plan to boycott the speech.
Rep. Don Beyer
Beyer told the AP that Netanyahu's 2015 speech was "among the most painful hours" he has spent while in Congress. Beyer is planning to boycott Netanyahu's upcoming speech unless he becomes a "champion for a cease-fire."
Rep. Greg Casar
Casar, a first-term Democrat from Texas, has said he is not planning to attend. "I don't plan to attend, and I will plan to participate in whatever advocacy is being done to push for Netanyahu and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire," he told Fox News Digital.
Rep. Jim Clyburn
Clyburn told the AP that he is planning an alternative event to exchange ideas about a path forward for Israelis and Palestinians.
"I just think that, rather than just say, 'I'm not going to go, I'm going to stay way,' I am saying 'I'm going to stay away with a purpose,'" the Democrat from South Carolina told the AP. "I'm not going to listen to his foolishness. But here are some ideas that we have that might be a way forward."
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Doggett, a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told The Hill that Netanyahu "needs to be staying in Israel and working for the peace that he has been unwilling to support in the past."
The "indiscriminate bombing that he has encouraged... has led to loss of lives that should never have happened. He has not prioritized the hostages; he ought to be doing that instead of coming here."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is expected to skip the speech along with many other members of the caucus, who are among the most critical of Israel's handling of the war.
"I've spoken to several members in the House and the Senate, actually, who had gone to the last speech, the last time he was here, even though they had a lot of misgivings about it, and have been clear that they're not planning to go this time," she told The Hill.
Rep. Hank Johnson
Johnson, of Georgia, told The Hill: "I won't attend and turn my back towards him. So I'm just gonna stay away."
Rep. Stephen Lynch
"He imported a little bit of controversy the last time he was here," said Lynch, of Massachusetts. "I thought it was disrespectful to the president, so I'm inclined not to attend."
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat who is Jewish, told Newsweek she will not attend Netanyahu's speech. She didn't attend his 2015 address either.
Netanyahu "could not care less about doing what's right for the long-term security of Israel, including ending the war in Gaza, securing the release of the remaining hostages, and taking meaningful steps towards a two-state solution," she said. His priority is "himself and maintaining power and immunity from the corruption charges that haunt him," she added.
"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."
Update 06/27/24 at 4:23 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
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