Over 100 Lawmakers Skip Netanyahu Speech to Congress Amid Protests over U.S. Support for War in Gaza

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Published 2024-07-25
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday to defend the ongoing war on Gaza as thousands of people outside protested his appearance. The speech came two months after Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, announced he was seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for committing war crimes in Gaza. Over 100 Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, skipped the speech, but those in attendance gave Netanyahu numerous standing ovations as he painted a distorted picture of what's happening in Gaza, making no mention of efforts to reach a ceasefire or the more than 16,000 Palestinian children killed in Israel's assault. Foreign policy analyst Phyllis Bennis says the speech was "horrifying," but says it showed that "support for Israel has become a thoroughly partisan issue." Bennis adds that peace activists in the U.S. have built a broad consensus against the war on Gaza and military support for Israel, and says Vice President Kamala Harris has an opportunity to chart a new path on Middle East policy as she runs for president.

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All Comments (21)
  • @rachael_grey
    He is such a shameless liar, and Congress is clapping like trained seals.
  • @angelinh.5774
    This makes me sick to watch the lies he tells. How horrific.
  • @meatmobile
    He should have been arrested the second he set foot on US soil.
  • @berg8970
    Israel doesn't have my support.
  • Too many dead kids Benny... IDF shot its own hostages waving a white shirt.... Can't justify that
  • @user-pn6iz8yc1l
    Congress putting a foreign criminal over good protesting citizens?? Amazing
  • @hagenkuhn7387
    These senators and representatives underline their unworthiness by applauding this criminal. The number of people in the world who still have respect for the USA continues to decline with this cynical spectacle.
  • @paleggett1897
    Such violent people on display in Congress. Such a sad shameful state of representatives.
  • @buckwahn8241
    This is a good example of how money (AIPAC) and greed for power prevail over moral and humanity. This was a great disgrace for congressmen and politics in America in general.
  • @billmanty3636
    I'm ashamed of americas. Complicity in Palestinian genocide
  • @sarakazim4221
    Liar. My daughter went there and saw for herself while she was doing humanitarian work. Many hVe witnessed the Atrocities and attacks on those trying to reach food supplies
  • @bonitaroache73
    If Warmongering can be started with Lies and Deception, Peace can be waged by Truth and Honesty
  • @csmith2992
    netanyahu told more lies than standing ovations from the cowards at his "address" to d.c
  • @nivisalba
    He literally lied with every second. He is literally a psychopath. Every. Single. Sentence. Was. A. Lie.