Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a meeting of the presidents of major American Jewish organizations in Jerusalem on February 18, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues.
Ronan Zwillen | Reuters
Musk Said he was attending a meeting of Israeli prime ministers Benjamin NetanyahuHe was speaking to Congress as a guest, according to a brief interview posted on social media by Fox News reporter.
this Israeli Embassy There was no immediate response to a request to confirm that Musk had been invited to speak as Netanyahu’s guest.
this Tesla The day before Motors CEO visits Capitol Hill, he announced his satellite internet company on X Starlink The project was launched at a Gaza hospital with support from Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk (center) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Samuel Kunlun | Bloomberg | Getty Images
nine months later Israel and Hamas war and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu’s speech became dispute,trigger erupt Protests in Washington. approximately 200 protesters was arrested Tuesday in connection with a sit-in at the Capitol Cannon Building.
More than 30 MPs do not plan to attend NetanyahuDuring the speech, many protested the Israeli prime minister’s attitude toward Israel’s war with Hamas.
Vice President Kamala Harris He also did not attend Netanyahu’s speech, which was a clear departure from tradition. The White House attributed her absence to travel requirements.
Normally, the Vice President presides over a joint session of Congress, but Harris Traveling on Wednesday because of the newcomers Democratic front-runner as party chairman Nominate.
U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris arrives at the Indianapolis International Airport in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States on July 24, 2024. Keynote speech at Beta Sorority, Inc.’s Grand Conference.
Brendan Smirovsky | Reuters
former president Donald TrumpTrump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, also missed the speech “due to his duties as the Republican vice presidential nominee,” a Trump campaign official told NBC News.
Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who would normally take over as Senate president pro tempore in the vice president’s absence, did not attend Netanyahu’s meeting due to ideological reasons, according to NBC News Speech.
Instead, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., will host Netanyahu’s joint address.
“The U.S.-Israel relationship transcends politics and partisanship,” Kadin said in a statement to NBC News. “It transcends any Israeli administration or any U.S. administration.”
While Harris attributed her absence on Wednesday to travel, many of the at least 30 lawmakers so far have said they will skip the speech to boycott Netanyahu. Among them is former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., They said they would meet with the families of Hamas hostages or attend a meeting of the Middle East Peace and Security Group.
“Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the U.S. Congress. Instead, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned,” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders explain.
Wednesday’s speech will be Netanyahu’s fourth congressthe last one occurred in March 2015.
While the prime minister is on Capitol Hill, he will meet with four members of Congress: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Senate Majority Leader Chacho Merle (R-N.Y.).
Netanyahu will also meet separately with the president on Thursday Joe Biden with harris white house.
