A group of prominent Israelis – including a former prime minister and a former director of the Mossad, the foreign intelligence service – have added their voices to growing domestic calls in the United States for Congress to withdraw its invitation to Benjamin Netanyahu to address it next month, calling the move “a terrible mistake”.
The petition, in an op-ed in the New York Times, argues that the invitation rewards Netanyahu, Israel’s current prime minister, for his “outrageous and destructive conduct,” including the intelligence failures that led to the deadly Hamas attack. last October and the bloody aftermath. war in Gaza that shows no signs of ending.
“Congress has made a terrible mistake. Mr. Netanyahu’s appearance in Washington will not represent the State of Israel and its citizens, and will reward his scandalous and destructive behavior towards our country,” argue the six authors of the article in a fierce criticism that also accuses the prime minister of failing to ensure the release of dozens of hostages taken in last year’s attack and who are still captive.
The authors of the article were Ehud Barak, former prime minister; Tamir Pardo, former director of the Mossad; David Harel, president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities; alongside novelist David Grossman; Talia Sasson, former director of the State Attorney’s Office; and Aaron Ciechanover, Nobel Prize-winning chemist.
Her august status and scathing criticism will reinforce opposition among many Democrats to Netanyahu’s appearance before a joint session on Capitol Hill on July 24, a sentiment reinforced by his accusation last week that the Biden administration is hampering the country’s war effort. Israel by deliberately withholding weapons, an accusation the White House denies.
The invitation was originally extended by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and endorsed by Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, despite the the latter’s previous complaint against Netanyahu and his call for new Israeli elections.
Several Democrats have said they will boycott Netanyahu’s appearance in Congress, notably Bernie Sanders, the left-wing senator from Vermont, who has called the prime minister a “war criminal.”
Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the House rules committee, called the invitation to Netanyahu “deeply troubling” and also vowed to stay away. Other critical Democrats have included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In comments that will be grist for the Democrats’ mill, the six Israelis write: “Inviting Mr. Netanyahu will reward his disdain for US efforts to establish a peace plan, allow more aid to the besieged people of Gaza and do a better job of sparing civilians.
“Time and time again, he has rejected President Biden’s plan to remove Hamas from power in Gaza by establishing a peacekeeping force.”
Laying out the internal opposition to Netanyahu among Israelis, they add a scathing conclusion: “Giving Mr. Netanyahu the stage in Washington will virtually downplay the anger and pain of his people, as expressed in demonstrations across the country. American lawmakers should not allow that to happen. “They should ask Mr. Netanyahu to stay home.”
