WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said he will not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled address to the Congress next week, an appearance he says is politically motivated and not in the interest of furthering peace between Israel and Gaza.

What You Need To Know

  • Netanyahu’s visit has been a point of debate among Congressional Democrats
  • While some Democrats contend that attending Netanyahu’s speech sends an important message that the relationship between the two longtime allies remains strong, others contend that boycotting sends an equally important message that Israel’s actions in Gaza are not acceptable
  • Last week, the Congressional Progressive Staff Association sent a letter to lawmakers urging them not to attend the speech
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has threatened to arrest his fellow lawmakers if they protest or otherwise disrupt Netanyahu’s address

“Nine months after the atrocities of October 7 and the ensuing conflict, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages are ongoing — and that should be the focus,” Schatz said in a statement released on Friday. “Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to deliver what is clearly a partisan address to Congress just months ahead of our elections.

“As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I welcome a substantive discussion about the future, not political rhetoric that will do nothing to bring peace in the region,” Schatz said. “I therefore will not attend Wednesday’s address.”

Netanyahu’s visit has been a point of debate among Congressional Democrats.

While some Democrats contend that attending Netanyahu’s sends an important message that the relationship between the two longtime allies remains strong, others contend that boycotting sends an equally important message that Israel’s actions in Gaza are not acceptable.

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., previously said the decision to invite Netanyahu was “wrong.” Last week, the Congressional Progressive Staff Association sent a letter to lawmakers urging them not to attend the speech. The letter was anonymously endorsed by 230 House and Senate employees from 122 different Democratic and Republican Congressional offices.

In addition to Schatz, several prominent lawmakers have already announced that they will not attend the speech, including Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.; Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Nearly 60 Democrats boycotted Netanyahu when he last addressed Congress in 2015.

Underlying Democratic concerns is the fear that Netanyahu may take the opportunity in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election to criticize Pres. Joe Biden for a perceived lack of support for Israel.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has threatened to arrest his fellow lawmakers if they protest or otherwise disrupt Netanyahu’s speech.

U.S. Capitol Police confirmed on Friday that it will have additional officers at the site in anticipation of “a large number of demonstrators.”

Netanyahu’s visit to Washington comes amid growing pressure on the Israeli leader to come to terms on a cease fire with Hamas.

The two sides were thought to be nearing agreement on a U.S.-brokered deal that would have involved the freeing of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and an eventual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, hopes dimmed this week after the Israeli Parliament passed a resolution opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state and Netanyahu himself, during a surprise visit to Gaza on Thursday, said that continued military pressure is helping to draw further concessions from Hamas and he intends to maintain Israeli control of the Philadelphi strip and Rafah border crossing, both seized during Israel’s spring military offensive in Rafah.

Despite strong support from Israeli nationalists, Netanyahu is still facing opposition at home as protesters have taken to the streets in increasing numbers to call for a cease fire. Earlier this week, Israel’s parliamentary opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu to cancel his trip to the United States unless it was to announce an agreement with Hamas.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.