Save Palestinians from Hamas, oust Bibi & his ultra-orthodox government allies in Israel who made sure Hamas stays in power in Gaza!
Save Israelis from Bibi & his ultra-right allies who are using the threat of Hamas to strip civil liberties and dismantle any checks & balances limiting their power!
"Sen. Bernie Sanders displayed photos of starving Palestinian children on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Monday to explain his decision to boycott an upcoming speech by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu"
"Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) signaled that she would join the congressional boycott, saying the Israeli PM "shouldn't be here.""
"...protests are expected to greet the prime minister upon his arrival in Washington, D.C"
Netanyahu risks Israel's future for his political survival
"Netanyahu's rejection of the deal...could deepen Israel's international isolation, worsen ties with Biden administration eager to wind down the war, and expose him to accusations of having abandoned the hostages to save his own skin"
"Public opinion polls indicate that Netanyahu is trailing behind Gantz and would struggle to form a government if elections were held today."
Democrats are anticipating a large chunk of their caucus to sit out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu'saddress to a #joint#session Congress.
Why it matters:
It would represent a significant repudiation of the Israeli prime minister amid persistent Democratic objections to how he has conducted the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu's 2015 speech to Congress, which was a major snub of the Obama administration, was skippedby 58 Democratic lawmakers.
Many Democrats this year argued against inviting Netanyahu in the first place, accusing Republicans of attempting to divide their party with the speech.
Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Axios the #boycott "will be large" and that there are "a lot of people who are extremely upset he is coming here."
Jayapal said she has spoken to several lawmakers who went to Netanyahu's 2015 speech but said they will not attend this time.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the progressive ranking member of the House Rules Committee, told Axios he will not attend and said: "I wish it wasn't [happening]."
Several other progressives previously told Axios when the speech was first floated in March that they would sit it out.
Some Democrats who have tried to balance their support for Israel and their discomfort with how the war has been prosecuted are struggling with whether to attend, as Axios previously reported.
One House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a lot of members will "wait up until the very end to decide" whether they will attend, calling it a "very fluid, unpredictable situation."
The lawmaker said that whether there is a #ceasefire in Gaza by the time Netanyahu speaks will be the key factor, predicting anywhere from 50 to 100 Democrats will skip the speech if the war is still raging.
Another, senior House Democrat said it is "all being discussed" and that "a number [of Democrats] are going and #disrupting" the speech.
The other side: Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), a senior Progressive Caucus member, told Axios he is "hoping to have a conversation about it."
Israel’s Seizure of #Gaza Border Zone Strains Ties With Egypt
Israel defied ominous Egyptian warnings & took control of the #PhiladelphiCorridor, but the reaction from #Egypt, which wants to maintain its #security cooperation with #Israel, has been muted.
The #IDF said another 4 #Israeli hostages abducted by #Hamas on #Oct7 had died in captivity & that their bodies are being held by the #Palestinian Islamist group.
The 4 were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, & Nadav Popplewell, 51.
All 4 were filmed alive in hostage videos posted by #Hamas.
#Hamas said that Popplewell had died of wounds sustained during an Israeli air strike when posting his video last month.
#IDF spox Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said that new intelligence led to confirmation of their deaths. The military believes the 4 were killed together in the southern #Gaza city of #KhanYounis a "number of months" ago when Israeli forces were operating in the city, Hagari said in remarks that were broadcast.
“We are thoroughly examining the circumstances of their deaths & checking all possibilities. We will present soon the findings, first to their families, & then to the public," he said. "We will present them w/transparency, as we have done until now."
Of the >250 people abducted on Oct. 7, about 120 remain in #Gaza, acc/to Israeli tallies. Many have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.
US-Präsident Biden hatte seinen Vorschlag für ein Ende der Kämpfe im Gazastreifen als israelischen Friedensplan präsentiert. Doch Israels Regierung steht offenbar nicht hinter dem Vorschlag. Von Jan-Christoph Kitzler.
Netanyahu seeks to block inquiry into Oct. 7 attack by Hamas: report
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to hinder the appointment of members of an inquiry commission into the October 7 Hamas-led attack, Haaretz newspaper said"
"The newspaper, citing an official in Netanyahu’s office, said the Israeli premier “does not trust judges, fearing that they will retaliate against him because of legal reform,”"
This looks like a potentially important development to me.
#Biden has pressured #Netanyahu into expressing support for a ceasefire. That statement alone prompted the worst of the nutjob terrorists in his government to threaten to dissolve his coalition.
Would they really do it? Thereby removing themselves from the government? I don't know, but even producing this big crack in Israel's fascist coalition looks to me like a masterful stroke on Biden's part.
Jaroslav Lukicv reports that two far-right members of Netanyahu's governing coalition, finance finister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, are threatening to withdraw from the coalition if Netanyahu follows through with Biden's ceasefire proposal.
US congressional leaders on both sides have invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.
The letter inviting Netanyahu was signed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
US congressional leaders on both sides have invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.
The letter inviting Netanyahu was signed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Netanyahu rechtfertigt im französischen TV zivile Opfer in Gaza
Die Bilder aus Rafah gehen um die Welt - bei einem Interview im französischen TV hat sich Israels Ministerpräsident Netanyahu nun verteidigt. Vor dem Medienzentrum demonstrierten Tausende gegen die Ausstrahlung. Von S. Markert.