Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a bipartisan invitation to address a joint meeting of Congress — prompting an immediate boycott by outspoken critic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
In a statement posted Saturday on his official Senate website, the Vermont independent called it "very sad for our country" that Netanyahu would be given a platform in the Capitol.
Sanders, who is Jewish, cited Israel's devastating response to the surprise Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and the recent move by the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar.
"The ICC is right. Both of these people are engaged in clear and outrageous violations of international law," Sanders said. "Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend."
On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, sent Netanyahu a formal invitation that also bore the signatures of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Hill first reported.
The leaders said they wanted to "highlight America's solidarity with Israel," according to the Associated Press.
"We invite you to share the Israeli government's vision for defending democracy, combatting terror and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region," they wrote.
Netanyahu accepted in a statement that said he was "excited for the privilege to present in front of the representatives of the American people and the entire world the truth about our just war against those who wish to kill us," the Times of Israel reported early Sunday.
The statement reportedly boasted that Netanyahu's planned speech would make him the first world leader to address a joint session of Congress four times.
Netanyahu and the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill now share the record of three speeches each, the Times of Israel said.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois also said she would boycott Netanyahu's address, calling him a "menace," according to the Hill.
A date for Netanyahu's speech hasn't been set, but a source familiar with the matter told the Hill it would take place "as soon as the next eight weeks or soon after August recess."
The invitation was made the same day President Joe Biden endorsed a three-phase peace plan proposed by Israel, calling it a "road map to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages" still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
It also followed a March speech in which Schumer said Netanyahu had "lost his way" and called for parliamentary elections in Israel.
