Disinvite Netanyahu, Support Biden’s Plan for a Cease Fire in Gaza
by Alan Singer
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has invited Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the United States Congress in July despite Netanyahu defiance of President Biden’s call for a negotiated cease fire in the war in Gaza. Democratic Party leaders, fearful of alienating Jewish voters and donors before the 2024 elections, have agreed to the invitation. The Republicans are hoping that Netanyahu’s appearance will divide the Democratic Party, allow them to maintain their majority in the House, take control over the Senate, and torpedo Biden’s reelection chances.
Netanyahu should not be allowed to visit the United States, let alone speak in Congress. The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, as well as the leaders of Hamas, for war crimes and crimes against humanity and two members of Israel’s war cabinet have resigned in protest over Netanyahu’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, long a supporter of Israel, wrote that “No friend of Israel should participate in this circus.” Friedman sees Netanyahu as a threat to democracy in both Israel and the United States. His governing coalition has endorsed policies inimical to United States interests in the Middle East including prolonging the war in Gaza, annexing the West Bank, and blocking Palestinian statehood. Friedman believes that Israel must end its war on Gaza and detach itself as quickly as possible.
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Source: Daily Kos