Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel this week to show support as a sizable number of Democrats consider boycotting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress. The delegation will participate in meetings with Israeli leaders to discuss updates on the war in Gaza, the humanitarian situation there, efforts to secure a temporary ceasefire, and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Hoyer stated that the goal of the visit is to strengthen the vital US-Israel relationship and maintain bipartisan support for Israel in Congress.
Netanyahu’s upcoming speech on July 24 comes at a time when his relationship with President Joe Biden has become strained over Israel’s war plans and efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza. While aid to Ukraine and Israel was passed by Congress in April, Democrats remain divided on Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas. It is uncertain whether Netanyahu will meet with Biden during his visit, as Netanyahu has yet to publicly endorse a peace proposal put forth by Biden, leading to frustration from the US regarding Israel’s war tactics.
Many Democratic lawmakers are considering boycotting Netanyahu’s speech, with some already publicly announcing their plans not to attend. In 2015, during tensions between Netanyahu and then-President Barack Obama, nearly 60 Democrats did not attend a speech by the Israeli prime minister to a joint session of Congress. Rep. Ro Khanna of California stated on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would be fine with Netanyahu speaking to Congress if it involved discussing how to end the war and release hostages, but not in a one-way lecture format. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Jim Clyburn have also declared they will not attend Netanyahu’s address.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has had disagreements with Netanyahu but believes in the importance of the US-Israel relationship, has defended his decision to sign on to the letter inviting the Israeli leader to speak. Schumer stated that America’s relationship with Israel is solid enough to transcend individual leaders, which is why he supported Netanyahu’s address to Congress. The support for Israel in Congress remains bipartisan, with efforts to maintain a strong relationship with the ally.
The delegation’s visit to Israel will focus on strengthening the US-Israel relationship, discussing the situation in Gaza, and working towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The ongoing tensions between the US and Israel over Gaza and Netanyahu’s policies have created divisions within the Democratic party, with some lawmakers choosing to boycott Netanyahu’s speech. Despite these disagreements, the importance of the US-Israel relationship remains a priority for many members of Congress, who are seeking to maintain bipartisan support for Israel.
