US Rep 'outraged' Congress gave 'genocidal war criminal' Netanyahu a platform

Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman said he was “outraged” that Congress was giving “a genocidal war criminal” a chance to address it, in reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu.

In an article published in the Guardian, Bowman said: “Netanyahu’s joint address is directly undermining the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans who want peace.”

“The United States and our federal government love to portray ourselves as leaders in peace, diplomacy and human rights. In the eyes of the world, we want to be seen as collaborators and coalition-builders, working together to solve problems around the world. The reality in the halls of power is very different.”

“We are at a pivotal moment in our democracy and our society where we have to ask ourselves: how do we want to be represented on the global stage? What do we stand for as a nation if we are inviting an accused war criminal to address a joint session of Congress as he inflicts collective punishment on hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children? Platforming a war criminal should not be our answer,” said Bowman.

Highlighting the plight of Palestinian civilians who have lost family members, their homes and been injured in Israel’s genocidal attack on Gaza, he added: “I am disgusted that we are allowing the man who is responsible for ripping families apart and killing Israeli and Palestinian civilians to be given a platform before Congress to try and win support and funding for his indiscriminate bombing campaign.”

“Netanyahu’s record of fascist and genocidal behaviour is not new… He has presided over the detainment of Palestinians without due process, the illegal expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and the practice of “mowing the lawn”, indiscriminately murdering dozens of Palestinians in horrifying military onslaughts. He has also worked to dismantle the national judiciary so he cannot be held accountable and aligned himself with far-right actors such as Itamar Ben-Gvir who have called for mass displacement of Palestinians.”

READ: Over 40 US lawmakers expected to boycott Netanyahu’s address to Congress

Netanyahu was met with large protests at the Capitol building yesterday, while a large number of lawmakers boycotted his speech. According to Axios congress reporter, Andrew Solender, “roughly 100 of the 212 House Democrats and 27 of 51 Senate Democrats (and Dem-caucusing independents) are in the chamber for Netanyahu’s speech.”

Meaning half of the representatives were absent from the session.

Just so we’re clear, Netanyahu has lost so many people that he is addressing just a fraction of Congress.

When this happens, they fill the seats with non-members, like what they do at award ceremonies, in order to project the appearance of full attendance and support. https://t.co/CIboKUrkBq

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 24, 2024

Commenting on the figures, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who boycotted the session, said: “Netanyahu has lost so many people that he is addressing just a fraction of Congress. When this happens, they fill the seats with non-members, like what they do at award ceremonies, in order to project the appearance of full attendance and support.”

Though she did attend, Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib held up a sign reading “war criminal” as Netanyahu delivered his speech.

While Jewish Congressman Jerry Nadler could be seen reading “The Netanyahu years” by Ben Caspit, a book which is critical of the Israeli prime minister’s governance.