The upcoming visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Capitol Hill has ignited a contentious debate within the House Democrats. On one side, there are progressive critics of Israel’s human rights record who are boycotting the speech to protest Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. They are particularly concerned about the expansion of settlements and controversial judiciary reforms under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative administration. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the progressive Squad, stated that she will not be attending the speech, highlighting the need for public acknowledgement of the human rights crisis in the region.
On the other side, Democratic leaders, Jewish lawmakers, and more centrist members of the Caucus are pushing back against the boycott. They worry that congressional attacks on Israel could harm the strong ties between the US and Israel, jeopardizing national security for both countries. Representative Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized the importance of seeking information and understanding different viewpoints by listening to Herzog’s speech.
The debate intensified when Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal referred to Israel as a “racist state” during a progressive conference. However, she later clarified her statement, shifting the focus to Netanyahu’s conservative policies rather than condemning Israel as a whole. Nevertheless, Jayapal faced criticism from House Democratic leadership and a coalition of over 40 House Democrats, who found her comments unacceptable.
This clash within the Democratic Party is not new, as there have been ongoing disputes between Israel’s staunchest allies and liberals over human rights issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the first two Muslim women in Congress, have been particularly critical of Israel’s human rights record, which has drawn accusations of antisemitism.
Republicans are seizing on this internal conflict to portray Democrats as antisemitic, deflecting attention from recent racially charged scandals involving GOP lawmakers. However, Democrats have fired back by urging GOP leaders to disinvite Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., from testifying in the House after his antisemitic comments.
Herzog’s visit comes at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians due to Netanyahu’s aggressive steps, such as diminishing the power of Israel’s Supreme Court and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. Some Democrats, including Representative Raúl Grijalva, are boycotting Herzog’s speech to send a message to Netanyahu about democracy and peace.
It remains uncertain how many Democrats will boycott the address, but the number is expected to be lower than the 2015 boycott of Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech. The proper procedures were followed this time, avoiding the controversy surrounding Netanyahu’s previous invitation without consulting the White House.
In conclusion, the planned appearance of Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Capitol Hill has ignited an internal battle among House Democrats. The progressive critics of Israel’s human rights record who are boycotting the speech are being countered by Democratic leaders, Jewish lawmakers, and centrist members. This clash has provided Republicans with an opportunity to accuse Democrats of antisemitism. The visit of Herzog comes at a tense time between Israel and the Palestinians due to controversial policies under Netanyahu’s administration. The number of Democrats boycotting the speech is expected to be lower than in the past due to proper procedures being followed this time.
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