Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) speaks to reporters near the Senate Chamber during a series of votes on nominations on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said it was a “mistake” for Democrats to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech to Congress.
“I think so, and I’ve expressed that view,” he said when asked on CBS’s “Face the Nation” if it was a mistake for Democrats to support the visit. “But the reality is, obviously, he came. So those of us who thought it was a mistake to have him here, we expressed our view by not participating.”
Van Hollen is one of the most outspoken critics of Israel and U.S. support for the country. He was one of many Democratic lawmakers who opted not to attend Netanyahu’s speech, saying in remarks on the House floor earlier this month that it “sends a terrible message” to invite the Israeli leader to the Capitol.
Netanyahu addressed Congress in a joint session last week, a speech that was met with opposition from some Democratic lawmakers and activists in DC who protested outside the Capitol against Netanyahu’s visit.
Van Hollen also said Netanyahu used Congress as a “target” in his speech.
“I think Prime Minister Netanyahu achieved his goal of using Congress as a fulcrum to increase his support in Israel, especially among his right-wing extremists. If you saw the people who gave the thumbs up during his speech, they were Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. They are right-wing extremists,” he said, referring to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
