Progressive “squad” Democrats are furious that their leaders have agreed to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress.
“Absolutely,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told Fox News Digital on Wednesday when asked if she was disappointed that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., agreed to sign the invitation.
“We should not create a platform and welcome an accused war criminal,” Pressley said.
Netanyahu accepted the bipartisan invitation late last week, saying in a statement that he was “very moved to have the privilege of representing Israel before both Houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us.” representatives”. of the American people and the entire world.” There is no date set yet.
NETANYAHU SAYS BIDEN PRESENTED 'INCOMPLETE' VERSION OF GAZA CEASEFIRE
Progressive “squad” Democrats like Reps. Greg Casar, left, and Ayanna Pressley, right, criticize the decision to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, to Congress. (Getty Images)
It has sparked a backlash from the left, where a growing number of Democrats have expressed criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. The controversy took on new meaning last month when International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he would seek arrest warrants against senior Israeli and Hamas officials, including Netanyahu.
“Instead of coming here, we need Netanyahu to stop indiscriminate bombing in Gaza and respect the president's red line of not continuing military operations in Rafah,” Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, told Fox News Digital. “I don't think it's a good time for him to come.”
Asked if he planned to attend the speech, Casar said: “I do not plan to attend, and I will plan to participate in any promotion that is being done to pressure Netanyahu and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.”
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she is unsure about attending the speech. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told reporters earlier this week that Netanyahu's appearance would not be “productive” after he accepted her invitation.
“Not only does it serve very little purpose, but I think it's patently unproductive. I think it's counterproductive right now for it to be addressed to Congress, particularly as we continue to try to hammer out details on the ceasefire,” Ocasio-Cortez said. Monday night. “I certainly don't approve and I may not attend.”
Reps. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., declined to speak to Fox News Digital about the matter.
“I'm not going to comment, thank you,” Omar responded when asked about Netanyahu's upcoming speech. Bush told Fox News Digital that he had to attend a meeting and could not stop to answer questions.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Jeffries and Schumer's offices for comment.
NETANYAHU INVITED TO ADDRESS CONGRESS AS BIDEN URGES HAMAS TO ACCEPT ISRAEL'S PEACE OFFER
President Mike Johnson pressured Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to agree to invite Netanyahu. (Getty Images)
President Mike Johnson, R-La., had been publicly pressuring Schumer for weeks to sign an invitation for Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, an honor reserved for the heads of state of America's staunchest allies. . In late May he told reporters that he was willing to invite Netanyahu to address the House alone if Schumer did not join his efforts.
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Meanwhile, the issue of Israel's war in Gaza has brought to the surface long-simmering fractures between the progressive left and the establishment.
Far-left lawmakers have criticized President Biden for not taking a stronger stance on Gaza, with some, like Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., warning it could cost him the 2024 presidential election.
On Tuesday, a vote to impose sanctions on the ICC if it attacked the United States or allies like Israel won the support of 42 Democrats, even though the White House came out strongly against the idea of sanctions. Although Democratic leaders, even the president himself, have criticized the ICC threat.
