Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to speak on July 24 in Washington before a joint session of Congress. “But Congress has made a terrible mistake. Mr. Netanyahu’s appearance in Washington will not represent the State of Israel and its citizens, and it will reward his scandalous and destructive conduct toward our country,” wrote a group of Israeli leaders, in a New York Times op-ed. They write that normally, such an invitation would be greeted as an honor, and seen as a welcoming “gesture from our closest friend and ally, to whom we are deeply and morally indebted.” These Israelis favored an American proposal, that international peacekeepers take control of Gaza to end the fighting and ease the suffering of the Palestinians, but Netanyahu has been consistently the main obstacle to peace. They continue that, as a condition for Netanyahu to speak, Congress, at minimum, should demand that Netanyahu demonstrate a plan to end the war, free the hostages, and call for immediate elections in Israel.
The Israeli leaders wrote:
“For months now, many of us have participated in nationwide demonstrations demanding an immediate release of the hostages, an end to the war and immediate elections. Polls of Israelis show that a majority want immediate elections, or elections right at the end of the war.
“A large portion of Israelis have lost faith in Mr. Netanyahu’s government. He is clinging to power thanks to a tenuous parliamentary majority. That majority ignores the plight of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced in the south after the Hamas attack and in the north because of attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the families of the hostages, a powerful force now in Israel.
“That’s where Mr. Netanyahu’s speech to Congress fits in with his political needs. No doubt it will be carefully stage-managed to prop up his shaky hold on power and allow him to boast to his constituents about America’s so-called support for his failed policies.
“His supporters in Israel will be emboldened by his appearance in Congress to insist that the war continue, which will further distance any deal to secure the release of the hostages, including several U.S. citizens.
“Giving Mr. Netanyahu the stage in Washington will all but dismiss the rage and pain of his people, as expressed in the demonstrations throughout the country. American lawmakers should not let that happen. They should ask Mr. Netanyahu to stay home.”
