Netanyahu's Upcoming Address to Congress Sparks Division Among Democrats

President Biden's aides express concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled address to Congress, fearing it could criticize the administration's response to Hamas and strain relations further. Progressive lawmakers have also objected to the speech, while others remain hesitant about attending.

President Biden's aides are reportedly concerned about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to Congress, fearing it could criticize the administration's response to the recent Hamas conflict. Sources told Politico that the White House is worried that Netanyahu could use the platform to publicly challenge Biden's policies on Israel, potentially exacerbating tensions between the two countries.

One senior administration official expressed uncertainty about Netanyahu's intentions, saying, "No one knows what he's going to say." The official noted that Netanyahu's recent video address, in which he accused the U.S. of sending less military aid, had been unhelpful and could foreshadow a more antagonistic tone in his speech to Congress.

Netanyahu's Upcoming Address to Congress Sparks Division Among Democrats

Several progressive lawmakers have spoken out against Netanyahu's scheduled address, citing his controversial record on human rights and his past criticism of the U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) have explicitly stated that they will not attend the speech.

Ocasio-Cortez referred to Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and argued that his speech should not be given legitimacy by Congress. She criticized the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians and its military response to the Hamas conflict.

Netanyahu's Upcoming Address to Congress Sparks Division Among Democrats

Some Democratic lawmakers have expressed hesitation about whether they will attend the joint session of Congress where Netanyahu is scheduled to speak. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have suggested that they may not attend.

However, other Democratic lawmakers have not yet decided whether they will attend the speech. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) told Fox News Digital that he had not made up his mind, while Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) said she had not yet decided.

Netanyahu's Upcoming Address to Congress Sparks Division Among Democrats

Netanyahu has accused the U.S. of reducing military aid to Israel in recent months. He claims to have made repeated requests to U.S. officials to expedite shipments of munitions, but his pleas have gone unanswered.

The White House has denied any reduction in aid, but Netanyahu has insisted that there has been a "dramatic decrease." He has suggested that this decrease has hindered Israel's ability to effectively respond to the Hamas conflict.

The White House has not commented directly on Netanyahu's allegations or his upcoming speech to Congress. However, White House national security spokesman John Kirby previously expressed perplexity over Netanyahu's claims about a reduction in aid.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is generally unaware of what Netanyahu is referring to when he makes such allegations.