Washington – Almost a quarter of Democratic U.S. lawmakers are expected to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday as he escalates his campaign against President Barack Obama’s Iran diplomacy in a speech to Congress that has put unprecedented stress on the two leaders’ already strained ties.
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Although given the cold shoulder by the U.S. administration, Netanyahu on Monday offered an olive branch, saying he meant no disrespect to Obama by accepting an invitation to speak to U.S. lawmakers that was orchestrated by the president’s rival Republicans.
By early Tuesday, as many as 60 of the 232 congressional Democrats had indicated that they planned to sit out the speech to protest what they see as a politicization of Israeli security, an issue on which Congress is usually united.
The absence of so many lawmakers could be politically embarrassing for Netanyahu at home two weeks before an Israeli general election. Many Israelis are wary of estrangement from a U.S. ally that provides their country with wide-ranging military and diplomatic support.
A House aide said congressional staffers would be allowed to take any unfilled seats, which would prevent television cameras from dwelling on empty spots in the legislative chamber.
House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the Republican whose unilateral invitation to Netanyahu triggered the diplomatic storm, said on Tuesday he expected a capacity crowd to hear the speech and played down any divisions.
“America’s bond with Israel is stronger than the politics of the moment,” he said in a video message.
I am sure that Bibi will make all those absent feel like two cents for missing his speech. He’ll do a finominal job.
Standing Ovation. Seems like the Super Bowl. The man is a rock star.
All Yeshivos should cancel sedar and watch this event. After say some Tehillim for Eretz Yisroel and our Medina.
Sure looks like Bibi won this round. Obama didn’t think that Bibi would stand up to him and make him look stupid. Well guess what he did. Think Obama is having second thoughts.
All those who are boycotting the speech – am sure they are all watching it from their office, glued to the edge of their seat taking in every word & syllable!
4 years ago Bibi was screaming that Sanctions won’t do anything, just war would help.
Today he claimed
“Some people claim that no deal would lead to war, this is not true. No deal would lead to a better deal”
Make up your mind. If sanctions won’t help, why would no deal lead to a better deal. If sanctions do help well, why did he claim several years ago, that sanctions won’t help.
Either one of the two is true
1. He has no clue
2. He wants war, and he knows the path to war, is no deal.
What a speech. Tears in my eyes.
My hey will have to explain why they thought thier “planed absence ” was justified!
Mine of our greatest allies comes to address our nation to implore the American people to voice our concerns over the pariah state of Iran and DemorcRATS think he should be shunned? History will shed light on this!
The dems like Gary Akerman,, Steve Solarz, Steve Rothman are gone, the current dems hate Israel, Join the GOP
Congressman Gregory Meeks, who represents the large Far Rockaway Orthodox Jewish population in the U.S. House of Representatives, disgraced himself today by boycotting P.M. Netanyahu’s speech. He played the race card in favor of “his” petulant president over and above any sensitivity to the value of 6 million Jewish lives in Eretz Yisrael.
It is my fervent hope that the Far Rockaway Jewish community never forgets Mr. Meeks’ turning his back on his Jewish constituency. Mr. Meeks demonstrated shameful “meekness” in the face of the threat of genocide from Iran. We MUST help to insure that the “gentleman from New York” is shown the Congressional exit door in the 2016 election.
Rangel said he was boycotting but I saw him in the audience with other members of the Black Caucus.
Various Jewish groups promised political revenge on those who boycotted the speech. Let us see if they can deliver.
remember who to vote for and who not to vote for comes the next election day. Bibi got 40 standing ovations. May Hashem give him much hatzlacha and keep Israel safe!!