Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has overseen the Israeli military as it’s caused catastrophic suffering in Gaza, including needlessly killing tens of thousands of people. Right now, families are starving amidst a famine his government created. That’s not all: He’s also allegedly given quotes to journalists to undermine ceasefire talks and repeatedly ignored requests from the families of hostages to get their loved ones home safe. He’s vowed to continue it all.
Yet despite a growing list of potential war crimes, House Speaker Mike Johnson has drafted Netanyahu an invitation to address a joint session of Congress — and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is reportedly ready to sign on.
Netanyahu does not deserve the honor of speaking on the congressional stage. Especially as powerful decision-makers, from the President to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, seem finally willing to use their influence to end the horrific violence in Israel, Palestine, and beyond. Inviting Netanyahu to speak at the U.S. Capitol would not only undermine our values — it could undo the ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire.
U.S. credibility — and hundreds of thousands of lives — are on the line. The decision is a no-brainer: Sen. Schumer must say ‘No.’ The good news? The chance that he will increases if he hears from thousands of people across the country now.
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Addressing Congress is a privilege, not a right. This honor should be extended to individuals who uphold democratic values and respect human dignity — Netanyahu does neither, and that’s why Majority Leader Schumer should not welcome him to Congress.
How can we be so sure? Just months ago, in a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Schumer himself called Netanyahu an "obstacle to peace" and said he should be removed from office — echoing the same call of the vast majority of people in Israel.
Yet, somehow, mere weeks later, with thousands more people dead and millions more lives at risk, Senate Majority Leader Schumer is now poised to provide Netanyahu with a prestigious speaking slot on the floor of the U.S. Congress.
Extending this invitation would be the height of political hypocrisy and a betrayal of our values. It also opens Congress — and the U.S. public — to a cynical bit of pro-war politicking that Netanyahu has tried before. In 2015, Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress in a blatant attempt to undermine support for the Iran nuclear deal. In 2002, Netanyahu assured a congressional committee that “tak[ing] out Saddam…will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.” He was catastrophically wrong on both counts.
Why give him a third opportunity to mislead Congress, while famine descends on Gaza and hostages languish without a release deal? Right now, Sen. Schumer stands between affirming human rights, justice, and accountability and platforming a potential war criminal.
This is a moment of truth for Senator Schumer. Will he be complicit in Netanyahu's propaganda tour, or will he say enough is enough?
Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team
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