In the midst of a stunning upheaval in the U.S. political landscape, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the world’s most controversial leaders, will come to the Capitol today to address a Congress deeply divided over the war in Gaza.
This is a critical moment for Netanyahu and his own internal politics, as well as one of the most fascinating geopolitical events on American soil in recent years. The longtime prime minister is in significant political peril back home. The bloody war in Gaza continues to grind on. Israel’s north is being bombarded by Hezbollah. And the Biden administration is long tired of him.
Yet Netanyahu’s allies in the United States and Israel believe he benefits from all the cheers and jeers certain to greet him today. This will be his fourth speech to Congress since 1996.
Many — if not most — Democrats loathe Netanyahu. Some even call him a war criminal. But Republicans have adopted him as one of their own, especially since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks and the start of the war in Gaza.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who outfoxed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in orchestrating Netanyahu’s visit, has sought to tie himself closely to the Israeli premier. Johnson has rebounded from mishandling an Israel aid package early in his tenure as speaker, before the Louisiana Republican found his own footing as a congressional leader.
Some news: Johnson told us Tuesday that he plans to visit Israel following the 2024 election. This would be Johnson’s first trip abroad as speaker. The Israelis invited Johnson to address the Knesset, but the body will be out of session after the U.S. election. Johnson said he would go sooner but “can’t take three or four days off the campaign trail right now.”
Here’s a sense of the mood in Washington as today’s drama unfolds.
— President Joe Biden will make an Oval Office speech tonight on why he ended his reelection campaign, which in itself is mega news.
— Senior Capitol Hill aides and lawmakers have been told in briefings that there could be upwards of 10,000 protestors on the Hill today. Two hundred protestors were arrested in the Cannon Building on Tuesday alone. NYPD officers were walking around the Capitol, brought in to help the U.S. Capitol Police control the crowds. Numerous streets are being closed off around the Capitol. In summation, don’t come to Capitol Hill today unless you absolutely must.
— Johnson sent a letter to lawmakers telling them to warn their guests that they’ll be arrested for any attempt to disrupt the 2 p.m. speech. Johnson’s letter signals lawmakers won’t be arrested but are expected to maintain decorum.
— We could see dozens of rank-and-file Democrats ditch the address.
— Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), not the vice president nor the Senate’s president pro tem, will be seated on the dais behind Netanyahu during the speech. Vice President Kamala Harris will be out of town, while Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said she’s skipping the speech.
This is the first joint meeting of Congress that Harris has skipped during Biden’s presidency. Both Biden and Harris will meet with Netanyahu this week. Netanyahu will then fly to Palm Beach, Fla., to huddle with former President Donald Trump on Friday.
— Schumer — the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history — called on Israelis to replace Netanyahu in a major speech back in March. Schumer said Netanyahu was an “obstacle” to peace. Yet the New York Democrat will participate in a photo session with Netanyahu today.
When we visited Jerusalem last month and spoke to Netanyahu and his team, we were told that the prime minister wants this to be a unifying speech. Meaning not like his 2015 address, during which the Israeli prime minister railed against former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. Still, Netanyahu is very unlikely to satisfy his Democratic critics.
Netanyahu’s address could provide a brief respite for Republicans, however. They can’t get any bills across the floor. And Republicans seem hell-bent on leveling racially fueled attacks at Harris.
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) was the latest Republican to call Harris a “DEI hire” during a TV interview Tuesday. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), locked in a tough primary back home, filed articles of impeachment against Harris. This isn’t what Johnson sought.
The GOP leadership was hoping to turn their focus to Harris’ decision to skip the Netanyahu speech as evidence that she’s not ready to be president — a stretch, we know. Here’s what Johnson said:
The retiring Cardin expressed a deep frustration with his colleagues who decided to skip the speech. Without directly criticizing them, Cardin told us that Netanyahu’s appearance should be viewed as a chance to push the prime minister toward a hostage-release and ceasefire deal. Cardin grew emotional when discussing the hostages, who include eight American citizens.
“I made a commitment in October with the hostage families that I would use every opportunity I have to help get the hostages home. So I’m not going to turn down any opportunity,” Cardin told us.
Several family members of the hostages will be inside the House chamber for Netanyahu’s speech. A group of these family members sent yellow ribbon pins and dog tags to every lawmaker as a show of solidarity with the hostages.
— Jake Sherman and Andrew Desiderio
