Several Senate Democrats are still undecided on whether they will attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress next month. The invitation was signed by bipartisan congressional leaders to hear Netanyahu’s perspective on defending democracy, combating terror, and establishing peace in the region. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, despite his criticisms of Netanyahu, signed onto the invitation emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
While some Democrats like Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Brian Schatz, and Sen. Angus King remain undecided, others like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Jon Tester, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Bob Casey, and Sen. Sherrod Brown have confirmed their attendance at the speech. Sen. Rosen, co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force For Combating Antisemitism, is one of the few Jewish women serving as a senator in U.S. history and faces a tough re-election battle in Nevada.
However, notable absences at the speech include progressive senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who have been vocal critics of Israel’s actions in the conflict. Warren described Netanyahu’s leadership as creating a humanitarian disaster and Sanders criticized the invitation to Netanyahu as a sad day for the country.
The divide among Senate Democrats reflects differing opinions on Israel’s policies and the U.S.-Israel relationship. While some prioritize maintaining a strong alliance with Israel, others raise concerns about human rights violations and the humanitarian impact of Israeli actions. The upcoming speech by Netanyahu is likely to reignite debates on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the role of Congress in shaping international relations.
As the decision-making process continues among Senate Democrats, the implications of their attendance or absence at Netanyahu’s speech could have repercussions on U.S. foreign policy, domestic politics, and the upcoming midterm elections. The debate over the U.S.-Israel relationship and how to address conflicts in the Middle East remains a complex and contentious issue within the Democratic Party.