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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers an address to Congress at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday there will be a number of noticeable absences from the Democratic side.
More than a dozen lawmakers say they won't attend either as a deliberate protest or because of scheduling issues.
The bipartisan invitation was sent in May by the Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. It had also been signed by the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats, along with the GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
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On October 7 2023 hundreds of Hamas gunmen launched a surprise attack on southern Israel killing around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and dragging several hundred more back to Gaza as hostages. According to Israeli authorities around 120 hostages remain in Gaza, though it is unclear how many are still alive. In response to the attack, Israel has launched a devastating air and ground campaign across Gaza which has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians according to the territory's Hamas run health ministry, though this figure hasn't been independently verified by Newsweek.
Newsweek has collated a list of prominent Democrats who have announced they will not be attending Netanyahu's address. It should be noted that some of those who have said they will attend are fierce Netanyahu critics including New York House Democrat Jerry Nadler, who on Tuesday described him as the "worst leader in Jewish history" for over 2,100 years but said be in Congress as he has "not given up on the dream of an Israel that can live in peace with its neighbors."
The office of Netanyahu was contacted by Newsweek for comment on Wednesday outside of regular office hours.
Vice president Kamala Harris
Vice president Kamala Harris, who since Joe Biden announced he won't run again in November has become her party's presumptive 2024 presidential candidate, reportedly declined to preside over the Senate chamber during Netanyahu's address.
According to The Washington Post Harris will instead be at an event in Indianapolis, though she is expected to meet Netanyahu later in his trip. An aide to the vice president reportedly told the paper missing the speech doesn't represent a change in Harris's position. In March she called for a ceasefire and said she has an "unwavering" commitment to Israeli security."
Senator Patty Murray
Senator Patty Murray, the president pro tempore of the Senate, has also declined to oversee Netanyahu's address. In a statement she said: "Securing a lasting, mutual ceasefire is of the utmost importance right now, and I will continue to push for one to be reached as soon as possible.
"I hope Prime Minister Netanyahu will use the opportunity to address how he plans to secure a ceasefire—and lasting peace in the region."
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Senator Richard Durbin
In a statement issued on Tuesday Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin commented: "Israel's execution of its war in Gaza under the direction of Prime Minister Netanyahu with 39,000 Palestinians dead and 90,000 injured is a brutal strategy beyond any acceptable level of self-defense … I will stand by Israel, but I will not stand and cheer its current Prime Minister at tomorrow's Joint Session."
Senator Jeff Merkley
In an X post on Monday, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley wrote: "I will not attend Netanyahu's speech. Following Hamas' horrific attack, Netanyahu's war strategy killed 12,000+ women and children, inflicted widespread starvation, and prioritized his political survival over the release of hostages. He should not have a platform before Congress."
Senator Bernie Sanders
The independent from Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, released a statement on Monday saying he won't attend the speech and branding both Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar "war criminals."
Senator Chris Van Hollen
In a speech on Tuesday Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen said he wouldn't attend Netanyahu's speech, accusing him of being an "extremist" and representative from an "alt-right Israeli government."
Senator Tim Kaine
In a statement Senator Kaine said: "Due to a previously scheduled commitment in Virginia, I am not able to attend this Wednesday's speech. But it remains clear that the security of Israel and U.S. service members in the region are immediately dependent on steps toward a deal to release hostages held by Hamas, establish a durable ceasefire, and increase humanitarian aid into Gaza."
Rep. Sara Jacobs
In an article for MSNBC, California Representative Sara Jacobs said she was boycotting Netanyahu's address as a consequence of her Jewish faith. She said: "Partisan grandstanding before Congress doesn't advance the cause of peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the region … When the stakes are so high, my faith compels me to reject performative gestures and focus instead on tangible actions to end this war."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In an X post on Tuesday New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said: "40k Palestinians are dead. Hostages aren't home. Netanyahu is a war criminal. I will be boycotting his address."
Rep. Rashida Tlaib
In a statement Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, said: "Netanyahu is a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
"It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court."
Rep. Ilhan Omar
According to Politico, Minnesota Representative Omar has said she won't attend Netanyahu's speech and will instead offer her ticket to the family member of a hostage held by Hamas.
Rep. Robert Garcia
California Representative Robert Garcia has said he will miss Netanyahu's address commenting: "I think that his focus should be completely on the work that's got to be done in Israel and Gaza."
Rep. Ami Bera
Representative Ami Bera, also from California, has confirmed he will miss the event, adding: "Prime Minister Netanyahu must no longer stand in the way of a ceasefire and an agreement for Hamas to return the hostages."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Washington State Representative Pramila Jayapal has said she won't be attending Netanyahu's speech, according to The New York Times.
Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost
Florida Representative Frost has confirmed he will miss the speech, commenting: "I detest what Netanyahu is doing, and I detest his leadership."
Rep. Jim Clyburn
During a NewsNation interview in June, Representative Clyburn said he would be skipping Netanyahu's speech citing the Israeli leader's treatment of former president Barack Obama.
He said: "When it comes to that joint session, I do not plan to attend it.
"Because I'm going to treat him the same way he treated Barack Obama, but I am going to participate with a group of others in an alternative session to his joint session to see if now we can get some attention to what makes sense."
Obama and Netanyahu's relationship was frosty at the best of times but many, like Clyburn, will not forget the time Obama was working toward a nuclear agreement with Iran and Netanyahu denounced the president's plan at a joint meeting of Congress.
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