Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and said he would not attend his address to a joint session of Congress.
“It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from leaders of both parties to address a joint session of the United States Congress,” Sanders said in a statement Saturday.
Netanyahu was formally invited to address Parliament on Friday in a letter signed by Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate.
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Senator Bernie Sanders said he would not attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress. (Getty Images)
The formal letter came after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, had signaled his intention to extend the invitation several weeks ago. It was initially unclear whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would also sign, especially after he called on Israel to hold wartime elections to replace Netanyahu. But the invitation ultimately bore his signature.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address this joint session of Congress, and I certainly will not attend,” Sanders said in the conclusion of a lengthy statement, referring to a recent request by the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking “war crimes” warrants against Netanyahu and other Israeli and Hamas leaders.
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Johnson led the effort to invite Netanyahu. (Getty Images)
“The ICC is right,” Sanders said.
Sanders is Jewish but has previously said he no longer has any affiliation to organized religion.
In response to the invitation, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement, “I am excited to represent Israel in both houses of Congress and to convey to the American people and representatives of the entire world the truth of our just war against those who seek to destroy our lives.”
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Sanders has been a vocal critic of Israel. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
With this speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu becomes the first head of state in the world to address both houses of parliament four times.
President Biden recently supported an Israeli-proposed ceasefire and urged Hamas leaders to accept it. He called for an end to the war and asserted that “at this time Hamas cannot carry out another October 7th.”
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Biden and Netanyahu may not see eye to eye on the proposed deal. ((Fox News/Getty Images))
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The agreement under negotiation is expected to include the release of the hostages and the continuation of the ceasefire. Following Biden’s remarks, Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement, asserting that Israel remains committed to the return of all hostages and the “elimination of Hamas’ military and government power.” It is unclear whether Biden and Netanyahu are on the same page.
“The precise outline of Israel’s proposal, including conditional transitions between phases, will allow Israel to uphold these principles,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Fox News’ Yael Rotem Kriel contributed to this report.
