Some of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the chamber floor Wednesday.
The rest weren’t even there – an act of protest seemingly mirrored by Vice President Kamala Harris, who chose to campaign in Indiana instead as she chases down the party’s presidential nomination.
“When Putin commits war crimes, we condemn him,” said Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa. “When Netanyahu commits war crimes, we give him excuses and bombs.”
Lee’s comments and her refusal to join her colleagues for the prime minister’s address during a joint session of Congress reflect a broader sentiment among the left wing of the Democratic Party opposed to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she’s met with both families of Israeli hostages and Palestinian advocates, “hearing grief, pain and a desire for peace.”
“I will not be lectured by Mr. Netanyahu on morality and justice,” she said.
For the lawmakers in attendance, however, many lauded Netanyahu as a strong and patriotic leader unafraid of striking Iran-backed terrorist groups unleashing violence across the Middle East.
“This man is the epitome of what it means to truly fight for your country, way of life, and citizens,” Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., said on X. “I’m beyond honored even to share the same space with him today. God bless you, @netanyahu. Stay strong!”
In his speech before lawmakers, Netanyahu explained in detail Oct. 7, the day when about 3,000 Hamas militants entered Israel and “butchered 1,200 people from 41 countries, including 39 Americans.”
That attack sparked a fierce response from Israel, which has been conducting missile strikes in Gaza for months to destroy the extensive network of underground tunnels the terror group uses to move weapons and supplies – and even pathways into Israel itself.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians, however, have been killed by bombs and crossfire, drawing rebuke from progressives and setting off a wave of protests across the country.
Many have placed the blame squarely on Netanyahu, saying he should do more to protect civilians, with many calling for a ceasefire.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is famously not one of them. His decision to don a suit for the prime minister’s address, rather than his trademark athletic shorts and hoodie, went viral across social media.
Likewise, the progressive senator’s pro-Israel stance has set him apart from much of the party’s left wing. After returning from a trip to the country in June, during which he met directly with Netanyahu, Fetterman said Congress should attack Hamas’s purse strings, too.
“Illicit finance fans the flames of the Israel-Hamas war,” he said. “What’s clearer than ever is that we have an opportunity to help Israel win this war in several ways, not just by our military and financial aid, but by strengthening existing regulatory tools.
Whether it’s making sure the Treasury Department has the necessary funding and tools or strengthening enforcement of existing sanctions, we have to do more to take on terror financing.”
It’s unclear where Harris will stand in the growing rift between moderate and progressive Democrats.
Rep. Dan Meuser, D-Pa., thinks her absence on Wednesday says it all.
“Vice President Harris’ boycott of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress later today is a serious affront to our greatest ally in the Middle East,” he said. “It is a selfish, politically motivated decision intended to rally support from the woke left. She is putting the needs of her campaign ahead of what’s in the best interest of American diplomacy.”
