Netanyahu overshadows Israeli president’s Congress speech amidst Democratic divide.
Israel’s President Delivers Address Before Congress, but Democrats Focused on Netanyahu
Isaac Herzog arrived in Washington this week, marking the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding. While his role as president is largely ceremonial, it is Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s prime minister, who has been at the center of Democrats’ attention.
Democrats are furious over the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Netanyahu’s plan to curb the power of Israel’s judiciary. However, Herzog is viewed as a more palatable choice to Democrats, as he is more centrist in both approach and tone.
The visit provided an opportunity for Democrats to show bipartisan support for Israel, despite concerns about democratic backsliding. However, the trip has become overshadowed by divisions over Israel.
Democrats Divided Over Israel
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the top progressive in the House, ignited controversy by calling Israel a ”racist state.” Democratic leadership and a group of 43 House Democrats rebuked Jayapal’s statement, emphasizing that demonizing Israel is “dangerous and antisemitic.”
A vote forced by Republicans confirmed that nearly all Democrats do not consider Israel a “racist or apartheid state.” However, tensions within the Democratic Party over Israel have been underscored by this episode.
While Republicans increasingly offer unqualified support for Israel, Democrats adhere to the U.S. policy of a two-state solution and express more sympathy for the Palestinians. They see Netanyahu as an obstacle to Palestinian statehood due to his nationalist policies and proposed judicial reforms.
House Democrats have voiced varying degrees of criticism towards the prime minister. Democratic leadership diplomatically expressed disagreement with “individual members of the current Israeli governing coalition,” while Jayapal clarified that she believes the Israeli government is run by “extreme racists.”
The decision to invite Herzog, who attempted to steer Netanyahu towards a compromise on the judicial reforms, has not satisfied hard-line members of the Democratic conference. Some progressive members, including those in the “Squad,” plan to skip the address, citing human rights abuses.
Conflict with Netanyahu: Personality and Policy
For mainstream Democrats, the conflict with Netanyahu is primarily a matter of personality and policy. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a strong supporter of Israel, called Herzog a “really great person” and criticized the Squad for skipping the address. However, Pelosi expressed disdain for Netanyahu, stating that she wouldn’t feel the same way about the prime minister.
The tensions between Democrats and Netanyahu are not new and predate the judicial reforms. Netanyahu clashed with President Barack Obama over the Iran nuclear deal, leading to several Democrats skipping his speech before Congress in 2015.
President Joe Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu remains cool. Biden has criticized the prime minister’s Cabinet as extreme, and their meeting was only confirmed on Monday. It is uncertain whether Netanyahu will be invited to the White House during his upcoming visit to the United States.
The Biden administration has urged Netanyahu to compromise on his proposed judicial reforms, emphasizing their shared democratic principles. However, Democrats have been cautious about pushing too hard publicly. House leaders aim to demonstrate their continued support for Israel, despite a small but vocal group of lawmakers who are highly critical.
On Tuesday, only nine members voted against a resolution reaffirming support for Israel, and Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA) predicted strong attendance from colleagues for Wednesday’s address.
“There’s unity in the Democratic caucus,” Aguilar stated. “I think you’ll see that with strong attendance from our colleagues on the House floor to see the president of Israel address us.”
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