Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress, calling him a “war criminal” and accusing him of having no regard for U.S. law. House and Senate leaders from both parties have invited Netanyahu to address Congress on July 24, highlighting America’s solidarity with Israel despite political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries signed the letter extending the invitation to Netanyahu. However, not all members of Congress, including Ocasio-Cortez, are in favor of the visit.
Ocasio-Cortez slammed the invitation, stating that Netanyahu should not be addressing Congress and calling him a war criminal for his actions. Progressives, including the “Squad” Democrats, are furious that their leaders agreed to invite Netanyahu to speak. The controversy surrounding Netanyahu’s address gained momentum when the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor announced plans to seek arrest warrants against top Israeli and Hamas officials, including Netanyahu. Several Democrats, such as Rep. Greg Casar, have criticized Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza and expressed concerns about his visit to Congress, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the indiscriminate bombing in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s visit to Congress has faced opposition from members of the left wing of the Democratic Party, who believe it is not productive and counterproductive to the ceasefire efforts. Ocasio-Cortez expressed her disapproval of Netanyahu’s visit, stating that there is very little purpose to it and that it may be counterproductive given the current situation. President Joe Biden’s strained relationship with Netanyahu has come to light in recent months, with Biden publicly and privately criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the Israeli government for not allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Ocasio-Cortez’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among some Democrats who are critical of Netanyahu’s actions and his visit to Congress.
The invitation to Netanyahu has sparked pushback from some members of Congress, with progressive Democrats and others expressing concerns about his visit in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Calls for a ceasefire and an end to the violence have been echoed by several Democrats, who believe that Netanyahu’s visit is ill-timed and unproductive. Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives are adamant that Netanyahu should not be addressing Congress and should instead focus on ending the violence in Gaza. As tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate, the debate over Netanyahu’s visit to Congress reflects broader divisions within the Democratic Party regarding U.S. support for Israel and its handling of the conflict in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress has reignited debates about U.S. support for Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with some Democrats expressing concerns about the timing and purpose of his visit. Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive members of Congress have criticized Netanyahu’s actions and called for an end to the violence in Gaza. The controversy surrounding Netanyahu’s visit underscores the challenges of navigating U.S.-Israel relations and addressing the complexities of the conflict in the Middle East. As tensions continue to mount, the debate over Netanyahu’s address to Congress highlights the varying perspectives within the Democratic Party on how to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel.
