Vice President Kamala Harris to Skip Netanyahu’s Address to Congress Amid Tensions

Vice President Kamala Harris to Skip Netanyahu’s Address to Congress

Vice President Kamala Harris has announced that she will not preside over the joint meeting of Congress scheduled for Wednesday, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to deliver a significant address. Her absence is particularly noteworthy given the current tensions among Democrats regarding Netanyahu’s approach to the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

According to an aide, Harris’s decision to miss the event should not be interpreted as a shift in her longstanding commitment to Israel’s security. Instead, the vice president has a prior engagement in Indianapolis, where she is slated to speak at a convention for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., one of the nation’s oldest African American sororities. Despite her absence during the Congressional address, she is expected to meet with Netanyahu later this week at the White House.

Traditionally, the vice president, in her role as the president of the Senate, occupies a prominent position beside the House speaker during joint meetings with foreign leaders, symbolizing a united front and support. This week, however, Democratic leaders have decided that Senator Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, will fill that role. He will sit alongside Speaker Mike Johnson and directly behind Netanyahu, according to sources familiar with the arrangements.

Senator Cardin, who has announced his retirement from Congress, has been a steadfast supporter of Israel throughout his tenure, even as the Biden administration and many members of Congress have expressed their concerns about Netanyahu’s policies and the handling of the conflict with Hamas.

In a twist, Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who serves as the president pro tempore and is third in line for the presidency, was also approached to preside in Harris’s absence but opted not to attend the speech altogether, according to a spokesman.

Additionally, several other Democratic lawmakers have indicated their intention to boycott the address in protest of Netanyahu’s policies and the broader implications of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The situation has become increasingly fraught, particularly as Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader and a Democrat from New York, is viewed as an unsuitable alternative due to his previous remarks labeling Netanyahu as a significant barrier to peace in the Middle East. Schumer has even called for new elections in Israel once the conflict subsides.

The Biden administration has had its share of tensions with Netanyahu, primarily concerning Israel’s extensive bombardment of Gaza, the inadequate delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and the apparent absence of a comprehensive post-war governance plan. Despite these conflicts, Netanyahu was invited to address Congress by leaders from both political parties. However, it was Speaker Johnson who vigorously advocated for this speech, aiming to strengthen ties with Netanyahu amid growing dissent among some Democrats, especially progressives, who have openly criticized his tactics that have led to substantial civilian casualties in Gaza and dire humanitarian conditions for the 2.2 million Palestinians living in the enclave.

Additional reporting contributed by Erica L. Green.