BY MOSHE HILL OPINION COLUMNS JULY 24 2024
In December 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington, DC. His country had been at war for nearly ten months, and he came to speak to a joint session of Congress about the need for American assistance to help the war effort. Kamala Harris sat behind Zelenskyy and waved a Ukrainian flag in support of this effort.
In July 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington, DC. His country has been at war for nearly ten months, and he came to speak to a joint session of Congress about the need for American assistance to help the war effort. Kamala Harris decided not to attend.
The Vice President is the President of the Senate, and they preside over speeches to joint sessions of Congress. When the Vice President decides to skip a speech, the President Pro Tempore presides over the address. However, Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WA) has also declined to attend the speech. Democrats, who control the Senate, had to scramble to find someone who could sit behind Netanyahu. The job fell to Ben Cardin, who is retiring from politics.
This is the political reality that Netanyahu has to contend with during his visit: a major political Party that has control over the Presidency and one of the Legislative Houses that refuses to express solidarity with an ally at war with a terrorist organization that attacked them. Murray, in her statement declining attendance, actually expressed the Democrat mentality regarding this war.
“I do not plan to attend Wednesday’s address. Securing a lasting, mutual ceasefire is of the utmost importance right now, and I will continue to push for one to be reached as soon as possible. I hope Prime Minister Netanyahu will use the opportunity to address how he plans to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace in the region. The United States’ commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad, and reaching a lasting ceasefire is critical, so that we can see the remaining hostages are finally released, a surge of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the rebuilding of Gaza, and ultimately, enduring peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike living side by side in two states.”
This is the entire statement from Murray, and it’s worthy of attention. Murray – and Democrats – have the opportunity to stand behind Israel in strength to bring a swift end to the war; but instead, they forgo that opportunity to spit pathetic platitudes of what they claim to want. They claim to want a “lasting ceasefire,” but are happy to leave Hamas in charge of the Gaza Strip. She is demanding withdrawal of Israeli troops and a two-state solution, yet she is absolutely delusional, as the Palestinian people had a de facto state in Gaza for 18 years and then committed the atrocities of October 7.
This snubbing is not unnoticed. Ambassador David Friedman, the Trump-era ambassador to Israel, said, “The Vice President is supposed to preside over joint sessions of Congress. [VP Harris’] refusal to do so when the Prime Minister of Israel makes his first public address in the United States since Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, tells you everything you need to know about where she stands on Israel.” The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) called the move “Disgraceful,” and added, “Kamala Harris’ first official act as the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States is to snub the leader of America’s key strategic ally, the Jewish state. Kamala Harris would be a total disaster for the US-Israel relationship.” Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, who represents the Congressional District with the largest Jewish population in the country, said that the “[Harris] decision to not attend tomorrow’s speech is petty politics, and shameful treatment of one of America’s strongest allies.”
Contrast that with what was just seen at the Republican National Convention last week. On Wednesday, Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of 22-year-old Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra, spoke to the crowd, which erupted into chants of “Bring Them Home.” (In response to this, The Washington Post posted that Omer is “missing” and criticized his parents, saying, “They don’t talk about Israel’s assault on Gaza that has killed over 38,000 Palestinians.”) On Thursday, during his nomination acceptance speech, President Donald Trump spoke about Hamas, saying, “We want our hostages back. And they better be back by the time I assume office, or they will pay a terrible price.”
Contrast that also with the actions of elected Republicans in Washington. Ahead of the speech, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson issued a “Dear Colleague” letter, telling all who are attending the speech that they, and their guest, will be subject to arrest if they interrupt Netanyahu. “If any disturbance does occur,” Johnson wrote, “the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police will remove the offending visitor(s) from the gallery and subject them to arrest.”
That is how you achieve peace: by exerting strength with your ally, not by openly disparaging and shunning them. This is what the Democrats are doing, and it only makes things worse in the region. Iran sees this, as do their proxies in Yemen, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories, and they know that they have an ally in their war against Israel – that ally is called the Democratic Party.
