Some members of Congress, including Representatives James Clyburn and Ro Khanna and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have said that they will refuse to attend PM Netanyahu's "one-way lecture," but we need every member of Congress to take a stance.

Will you sign the petition to urge all members of Congress to refuse to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address in July?

Dear MoveOn member, 

Right now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is waging a devastating war in Gaza that has killed nearly 38,000 Palestinians, while undermining diplomacy and ignoring calls from hostages' families and protests at home urging him to accept a ceasefire that could end the violence. And just last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) submitted an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for committing war crimes.¹

Despite these atrocities, House Speaker Mike Johnson—with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in tow—has officially invited PM Netanyahu to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on July 24. 

Already, some members of Congress, including Representatives Ro Khanna and James Clyburn and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have said that they will refuse to attend PM Netanyahu's "one-way lecture," but we need every member of Congress to take a stance.²

It's unacceptable to have an accused war criminal who is actively waging brutality against Palestinian citizens address Congress. Will you sign the petition to urge members of Congress to, at minimum, skip PM Netanyahu's speech?

PM Netanyahu has built a career on impunity and sabotaging peace processes. His current résumé includes everything from domestic corruption charges to overseeing efforts to manipulate U.S. public opinion to accusations of empowering Hamas to weaken a two-state solution. And now, PM Netanyahu has been accused of "starvation of civilians as a method of warfare," "intentionally directing acts against a civilian population," and "other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity."³

Let's be clear: PM Netanyahu is a corrupt politician who is desperately trying to hold on to power. 

To do it, he has waged a catastrophic war in Gaza, resulting in needless suffering and death. Right now, families are at risk of starving to death amid a famine his government created. Palestinian children are dying, and those who survive are forced to scrounge for food daily, reduced to eating feed and hay meant for animals.⁴ And by July, more than a million Palestinians could face starvation if humanitarian food aid does not increase.⁵

Nothing will change if leaders who continuously choose violence over peace are given huge megaphones and political cover, especially by the U.S. government. We need your help to remind every member of Congress of the stakes. Will you urge members of Congress to, at the very least, skip PM Netanyahu's speech?

If members of Congress show up to this speech in full force, it will send a distressing signal that the U.S. government approves of PM Netanyahu's most egregious actions. It'd be as dangerous as it is misguided. That's why we’re launching a multipronged effort to push back—and your taking action today is a critical piece of the plan.

A speech before Congress opens the U.S. public—and the whole world—to a cynical bit of pro-war politicking that Netanyahu has tried multiple times before. Not even 10 years ago, PM Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress in a blatant attempt to undermine the Iran nuclear deal. 

We saw through that attempt to sow division then too, along with 58 members of Congress, joined by then-Vice President Biden, who took a crucial stand for diplomacy by skipping the 2015 speech. Today's circumstances demand nothing less than the same moral integrity. You can help push them to act, but we've got to move fast.

Click here to add your name to the petition and urge your members of Congress to skip PM Netanyahu's address on July 24! And then share with three friends to help spread the word.

Thanks for all you do.

–Sara Haghdoosti, on behalf of the Win Without War team

Sources:

1. "Exclusive interview: ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants against Sinwar and Netanyahu for war crimes over October 7 and Gaza," CNN, May 20, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/194058?t=7&akid=396245%2E40999114%2EXPcEQE

2. "Khanna says he will not attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress," The Hill, June 16, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/194059?t=9&akid=396245%2E40999114%2EXPcEQE

3. "Benjamin Netanyahu given a label he will never shake by ICC as Israeli prime minister accused of 'war crimes,'" Sky News, May 20, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/194060?t=11&akid=396245%2E40999114%2EXPcEQE

4. "Palestinian children battle a deadly foe in Gaza—starvation," NBC News, June 14, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/194061?t=13&akid=396245%2E40999114%2EXPcEQE

5. Ibid.

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