House Democrats draw flak as they plan to steer clear of Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at US Congress

WASHINGTON, DC: A wave of controversy has erupted as a significant number of House Democrats announced their intentions to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before a joint session of Congress in July.

This protest is largely driven by disapproval of Netanyahu's handling of the ongoing war with Hamas and his perceived disregard for President Joe Biden’s preferred strategies, The Hill reported.

House Democrats to boycott Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before Congress

The animosity between Benjamin Netanyahu and progressive Democrats is not new. Over the years, the Israeli Prime Minister's conservative policies, particularly his strong opposition to the Iran nuclear deal under former president Barack Obama, have been a flashpoint.

This tension led to a similar boycott during Netanyahu's last address to Congress nearly a decade ago. These old grievances have resurfaced, compounded by new frustrations over Netanyahu’s military actions in Gaza.

Rep Hank Johnson made his stance clear, stating, "I won’t attend and turn my back towards him. So I’m just gonna stay away."

This sentiment is echoed by others, including Rep Stephen F Lynch, who criticized Netanyahu's previous visit for what he saw as disrespect toward the then-president. "He imported a little bit of controversy the last time he was here," Lynch said. "I thought it was disrespectful to the president, so I’m inclined not to attend."

Discussions continue among progressive Democrats about the most effective way to protest Netanyahu's upcoming speech. Rep Lloyd Doggett revealed that there is still debate on how best to respond.

Rep Greg Casar also expressed his intentions, saying, "I’m not planning on attending, and/or I’ll be participating in whatever events there are to express that we want this war to end and we want both him and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire."

While some Democrats are adamant about boycotting, others see attending the speech as a show of solidarity with a crucial ally. Rep Juan Vargas expressed his support, saying, "They’re our strongest ally in the Middle East. He’s obviously the leader that they’ve chosen. And I respect the country very much, and I will be there."

House Democratic leaders are preparing for the internal discord that Netanyahu's visit will likely stir. Rep Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, acknowledged that members have the right to choose whether to attend.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who plans to attend the speech, emphasized that each lawmaker must decide based on their own beliefs and the interests of their districts.

"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," Jeffries said.

The current scenario draws parallels to Netanyahu’s 2015 address, which also saw a significant boycott. At that time, Netanyahu used the platform to criticize Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, an unprecedented move that strained relations further.

House Democrats slammed as they plan to boycott Benjamin Netanyahu's speech

The news of Benjamin Netanyahu's speech boycott by House Democrats has sparked significant backlash online. One user on Facebook commented, "They won't be missed," while another remarked, "Cowards. It’s your freakin job to go listen to him. Maybe this guy can educate you Pro-Hamas troglodytes."

"Democrats always cry. Rage mode always activated," wrote one user, while another added, "Democrats love Hamas and terrorism and it shows in their behavior."

The criticism continued with comments like, "Idiots behaving like their usual selves," and "Good, nobody wants the party of hate nearby anyhow."

One user wrote, "The racist Bigots want to Boycott Netanyahu."

Another suggested, "Party of Hamas. Bibi should also bring the just freed hostages who were being held prisoner by Palestinian militants to trigger these snowflakes."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.