An anonymous letter supported by 230 staffers in the House of Representatives and the Senate is urging lawmakers to boycott a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to address Congress later this month as Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza rages on.
The letter, organized by members of the Congressional Progressive Staff Association and endorsed by staffers representing the offices of 122 Democratic and Republican lawmakers, describes the demand for a boycott of Netanyahu’s speech as an “issue of morality” that transcends politics, and notes that “citizens, students, and lawmakers across the country and the world have spoken out against the actions of Mr. Netanyahu,” including Israeli citizens.
Several staffers (and some lawmakers) plan to skip the speech in protest of Israel’s relentless bombing and starvation campaign in Gaza. In their letter, the staffers urge their bosses to do the same.
“We hope you will join your fellow Members of Congress in protest at his speech or in refusing to attend it,” the staffers wrote.
Netanyahu’s speech is scheduled to happen on July 24. He was initially invited by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who consulted the White House about the invitation.
Some Democratic lawmakers believe the invite was politically motivated, as Republicans began discussing the idea of having Netanyahu speak only after Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York), himself a Jewish lawmaker, criticized the Israeli prime minister in a speech on the Senate floor.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers, including a large contingent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, are expected to boycott Netanyahu’s speech. The chair of that caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), told The Associated Press last month that it was a “bad idea” to invite him to speak.
“We should be putting pressure on him” to abide by demands from President Joe Biden “by withholding offensive military assistance,” Jayapal said.
Some progressive senators, including Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) have also announced that they will be skipping the event in protest of Netanyahu’s actions as prime minister since last fall.
Since October 7, Israeli forces have massacred over 39,000 Palestinians in Gaza — including more than 15,000 children, per the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Public health researchers have noted that the true death toll is likely far higher, with some estimating that Israel’s U.S.- backed genocide has killed at least 186,000 Palestinians so far.
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