The Maui News

KAHULUI–U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) released a statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled address to a joint session of Congress next week on July 19.

“Nine months after the atrocities of October 7 and the ensuing conflict, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages are ongoing – and that should be the focus. Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to deliver what is clearly a partisan address to Congress just months ahead of our elections. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I welcome a substantive discussion about the future, not political rhetoric that will do nothing to bring peace in the region. I therefore will not attend Wednesday’s address.”

Schatz will follow with several key democrats who are either not attending the event due to scheduling conflict (Kamala Harris), or are boycotting Netanyahu’s speech Wednesday. Like Schatz, Bernie Sanders has said he will boycott the speech. Sanders criticized the speech Tuesday from the Senate floor.

“Tomorrow will be unique in bringing Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress,” Sanders said. “It will be the first time in American history that a war criminal has been given that honor.”