{"id":48670,"date":"2024-07-23T17:24:50","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T01:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/?p=48670"},"modified":"2024-07-23T17:24:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T01:24:50","slug":"calls-to-boycott-netanyahu-speech-grow-as-israeli-pm-heads-to-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/23\/calls-to-boycott-netanyahu-speech-grow-as-israeli-pm-heads-to-dc\/","title":{"rendered":"Calls to Boycott Netanyahu Speech Grow as Israeli PM Heads to DC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Pressure is mounting on U.S. lawmakers to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s scheduled address to Congress later this week, as a newly formed coalition of civil society groups announced a protest against the far-right leader \u2013 whose policies and actions in <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/gaza\">Gaza<\/a> are on trial for genocide at the World Court.<\/p>\n<p>As Netanyahu &#8220;brings to Congress his message of extending and expanding the devastating war in Gaza, neglecting the safety of Israeli hostages, and ensuring impunity for the actions of his government, an alternative message must be heard,&#8221; the new coalition said in a statement Monday. &#8220;To amplify a message of safety, freedom, just peace, collective liberation, and human rights for ALL Palestinians and Israelis, nine diverse groups have come together to form the Peace and Justice Protest Bloc.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The groups \u2013 American Friends of Combatants for Peace (AFCFP), Win Without War, T&#8217;ruah, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, Israelis for Peace, Halachic Left, and three local chapters of Supporters of Standing Together \u2013 &#8220;will come together in Washington this week to urge members of Congress to skip Netanyahu&#8217;s speech, sponsor community events with peace activists from the region, and amplify the voices of those in <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/israel\">Israel<\/a>, <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/palestine\">Palestine<\/a>, and around the world who reject Netanyahu&#8217;s failed leadership.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Peace &amp; Justice Bloc will protest Netanyahu when he speaks to Congress next week calling for ceasefire and a hostage\/prisoner deal and freedom to all Palestinians and Israelis. With <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cfpeace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@cfpeace<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/omdimbeyachad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@omdimbeyachad<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/israelispeaceny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@israelispeaceny<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WinWithoutWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WinWithoutWar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HalachicLeft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@HalachicLeft<\/a> and more. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/01NJuniD4d\">pic.twitter.com\/01NJuniD4d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gili Getz (@giligetz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/giligetz\/status\/1813994428316717078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The bloc, made up of hundreds of Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, Jews, and allies, will unite to demonstrate that collective struggle and liberation are possible, and there is a growing movement that embodies it,&#8221; the coalition added. &#8220;We must act now to ensure that the voices for a just peace are louder than those of division and bloodshed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A larger protest by a coalition of groups including Palestinian Youth Movement, National Students for Justice in Palestine, CodePink, ANSWER Coalition, the People&#8217;s Forum, International Peoples&#8217; Assembly, Al-Awda-N.Y., and the Palestinian American Community Center-N.J. is also planned for Wednesday, when Netanyahu is set to speak. Organizers are planning to surround the U.S. Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A visit by Netanyahu to Congress and the U.S. confirms something we already knew: The United States of America financially and morally supports the slaughter of Palestinians happening in Gaza,&#8221; <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.codepink.org\/dcnetanyahuprotest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> CodePink Palestine campaign coordinator Nour Jaghama, who was <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/derrick-van-orden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arrested<\/a> outside the Republican National Convention last week after being falsely accused of assaulting a Republican lawmaker. &#8220;They are no better than Netanyahu and every single Israeli official who orders the dropping of bombs on sieges on hospitals.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Groups including the <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/action.cair.com\/a\/boycott_netanyahu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Council on American Islamic Relations<\/a> and <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.codepink.org\/boycottbibi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CodePink<\/a> have circulated petitions urging members of Congress to boycott Netanyahu&#8217;s speech, which is set for Wednesday. Numerous congressional Democrats have <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/netanyahu-congress-speech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">already said<\/a> they will not attend the address, as has Independent U.S. Sen. <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/bernie-sanders\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> of Vermont, who on Monday <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sanders.senate.gov\/press-releases\/news-sanders-on-netanyahu-addressing-congress-this-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reaffirmed<\/a> why he&#8217;ll skip the speech.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Netanyahu and his right-wing, extremist government have waged total war against the Palestinian people, killing at least 39,000 Palestinians and injuring 89,000 \u2013 60% of whom are women, children, or elderly people,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the United States Congress.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned,&#8221; the senator added. &#8220;In my view, his right-wing, extremist government should not receive another nickel of U.S. taxpayer support to continue the inhumane destruction of Gaza.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">No, Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the U.S. Congress.<\/p>\n<p>On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned.<\/p>\n<p>As I stated last month, I will not be attending his address. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sM8NKt1Bu2\">pic.twitter.com\/sM8NKt1Bu2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenSanders\/status\/1815458923518050394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Axios<\/em> Capitol Hill reporter Juliegrace Brufke <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/juliegraceb\/status\/1815445635040006538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> Monday that Vice President Kamala Harris \u2013 whom many Democrats have endorsed for president since U.S. President Joe Biden&#8217;s Sunday withdrawal from the 2024 race \u2013 has &#8220;declined&#8221; to preside over Netanyahu&#8217;s speech, as is her prerogative as Senate president. So has Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-Wash.), leaving uncertainty as to who will preside over the session.<\/p>\n<p>Like Biden, Harris has been an <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dropsitenews.com\/p\/can-kamala-harris-wipe-the-blood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ardent supporter<\/a> of Israel during her tenure in the U.S. Senate and White House. She is <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/kamala-harris-gaza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">facing fresh calls<\/a> take a &#8220;clear stance&#8221; against any more weapons sales for Israel.<\/p>\n<p>In 2015 \u2013 the last time Netanyahu addressed Congress \u2013 nearly 60 lawmakers including Sanders <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/2015\/03\/03\/nearly-60-lawmakers-boycott-netanyahu-speech\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">boycotted<\/a> his speech.<\/p>\n<p>Some progressive groups and individuals have called for more than just a boycott of Netanyahu.<\/p>\n<p>The Center for Constitutional Rights on Friday <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/netanyahu-united-states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asked<\/a> the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Netanyahu and other Israeli officials for allegedly committing or authorizing genocide, war crimes, and torture. The group led a federal genocide complicity lawsuit against Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that was <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/biden-genocide-case\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">dismissed<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, former Democratic Ohio state Sen. <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/nina-turner\">Nina Turner<\/a><a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/arrest-netanyahu-for-war-crimes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">argued<\/a> that Netanyahu &#8220;should be arrested on the spot&#8221; for &#8220;overseeing a genocide.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2024\/jul\/20\/speaker-mike-johnson-threatens-arrest-lawmakers-wh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">warned<\/a> attendees of a Republican National Convention event last week that he would order the arrest of any lawmakers who get &#8220;out of hand&#8221; during Netanyahu&#8217;s speech.<\/p>\n<p><i>Brett Wilkins is is staff writer for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/\">Common Dreams<\/a>. Based in San Francisco, his work covers issues of social justice, human rights and war and peace. This originally appeared at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/\">CommonDreams<\/a> and is reprinted with the author\u2019s permission.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pressure is mounting on U.S. lawmakers to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s scheduled address to Congress later this week, as a newly formed coalition of civil society groups announced a protest against the far-right leader \u2013 whose policies and actions in Gaza are on trial for genocide at the World Court. As Netanyahu &#8220;brings [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":372,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-48670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"meta_box":{"disable_donate_message":"","custom_donate_message":"","subtitle":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/372"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48670"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48678,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48670\/revisions\/48678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48670"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=48670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}