Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie (R) announced Wednesday that he will not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress, directly telling AIPAC that they can vilify him all they want, but he will not participate in the his “manifestation of war”.
Today Congress will take the political theater on behalf of the State Department.
The purpose of Netanyahu addressing Congress is to strengthen his political position in Israel and quell international opposition to his war.
I don't feel like being a prop, so I won't be attending.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 24, 2024
Being a prop for the state department to perpetuate war in the Middle East is decidedly not in the job description that the founders gave me.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 24, 2024
Call me whatever you want. I still won't attend your war rally.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 24, 2024
Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) also made a surprisingly bold statement condemning Netanyahu's planned speech to Congress.
Netanyahu is a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It's a shame that leaders of both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) July 23, 2024
she it is called the full statement:
“Netanyahu is a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is utterly shameful that leaders of both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.
“Since 1948, the US has provided more than $141 billion in arms to the Israeli government to fund the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, including $17.9 billion since October. Netanyahu's apartheid regime has already been slaughtered 39,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including more 15,000 children. Yet my colleagues and the Biden administration continue to approve more funding and send more weapons, even to innocent children like Hind Rajab. aimed with 355 bullets, shot in the head by Israeli snipers, burned to death in their tents with US-made weapons, bombed while playing at school, deliberately starveand Palestinians are bombed in refugee camps and discovered in mass graves, naked and with their hands tied, all live for the world to see. These are undeniably war crimes under international law.
“Make no mistake: this event is a celebration of the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. It is a sad day for our democracy when my colleagues will smile for a photo op with a man who is actively committing genocide. It is hypocritical to claim- ho. concerned about the mass death of innocent civilians, and then welcome the person responsible for these war crimes into our Capitol. Their silence is a betrayal, and history will remember them accordingly.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also condemned the decision to host Netanyahu in Congress:
It is a dark day in American history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to speak to a joint session of Congress.
40,000 Palestinians have died.
The hostages are not at home.
Netanyahu is a war criminal.
I will boycott your address.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 23, 2024
Several dozen representatives have said they won't attend, but most seem to be saying they're only doing so to protest Netanyahu (whose approval rating is in the dumps in Israel).
Counterprogramming + boycotts
How some Democrats are handling Netanyahu's speech
There will be far more Dem boycotts than are being blamed below: We've reported that more than 80 Dems are expected to jump (but these are the ones who have said so publicly) pic.twitter.com/xFAbeVs052
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) July 24, 2024
Statement from Spox for Speaker Emeritus Pelosi:
“Speaker Pelosi will not be attending today's joint meeting. This morning, he will join a membership meeting with Israeli citizens whose families have suffered as a result of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack and kidnappings.”
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) July 24, 2024
Representative Madeleine DEAN says @CNN WILL NOT ATTEND Netanyahu's address today
He will meet with families of hostages
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) July 24, 2024
Unlike these other cowardly representations, Massie has bravely called out the Israel lobby without any care for the consequences.
Deputy Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) hangs an America First sign from his congressional office door after barring AIPAC lobbyists from entering.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/AE97AZqOkN
— AF Post (@AFPost) June 22, 2024
It has been widely reported in the past that whenever Netanyahu makes official visits to America he literally brings suitcases full of his dirty laundry for us to clean.
When I heard that Netanyahu was taking his dirty laundry to the US for the government to wash, I thought it was a metaphor about washing away his crimes.
it is not
Take eight dry cleaning bags because it's free. pic.twitter.com/3AyPtrfwBV
— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) July 23, 2024
Although he treats us with utter contempt, our Congress historically worships him as God.
Netanyahu is as reported plans to tell Congress a “new way” to “treat each other.” [the] challenge” of Iran and other countries in the region, also known as command us to fight the wars of Israel.
[Header image by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0]
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