Alabama’s Republican Congressional delegation lambasted Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday for deciding to not attend the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader was invited to speak in front of a joint session of Congress about the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.
“America and Israel must stand together,” Netanyahu said. “When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose.”
Several Democrats, including Vice President Harris, decided to boycott the speech. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) criticized Harris for failing to preside over Netanyahu’s address.
It’s a shame Vice President Harris literally will not be here today to stand with Israel. Time and time again she fails to do her job.⁰
❌She was put in charge of the border—she failed at that.
❌She's expected to preside over joint sessions of Congress in which foreign… pic.twitter.com/1WSDaLsNYN— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) July 24, 2024
“I think it’s a shame that Vice President Harris won’t be here, literally won’t be here, standing with Israel today. She isn’t presiding over or attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address,” Britt said in a press conference before the speech.
“And look, to be honest, she doesn’t have many jobs as the vice president. She was put in charge of our border. We know she failed at that responsibility. She was supposed to fill in for the president during ceremonial times. She failed to greet Prime Minister Netanyahu when he landed in the United States and she is expected to preside over joint sessions in which foreign leaders of Congress are present. Once again, she’s failing at that too.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) also criticized the Vice President saying, “Her behavior is pathetic and disgraceful.”
Kamala Harris is good at one thing: failing both Americans and our allies.
She has decided to appease the radical, anti-Semitic wing of her party and not attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address.
Her behavior is pathetic and disgraceful.
— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) July 24, 2024
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) believes this is proof that Harris is not a true ally to Israel.
“By skipping out on Netanyahu’s address,” Rogers said, “Kamala Harris is making it abundantly clear that she is not an ally to the state of Israel or our American, Jewish communities.”
By skipping out on Netanyahu’s address, Kamala Harris is making it abundantly clear that she is not an ally to the state of Israel or our American, Jewish communities. https://t.co/69j6aFlZCb
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) July 24, 2024
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Moore) argued that Israel needs our support more now than ever.
“As Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress this afternoon, I want him and all of Israel to know that America continues to stand with them,” Moore said in a statement. “It is not a war crime to defend yourself against terrorists who seek to wipe your people off the face of the earth. The International Criminal Court should immediately withdraw its arrest warrant applications for Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant.”
U.S. Rep Dale Strong said the current moment is “an opportunity for the American people to come together in support of the Middle East’s strongest democracy, not a time for political games.”
“In the wake of the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, we must stand with our ally Israel. It was an honor to have Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address Congress today. I am proud to stand side-by-side with our Israeli allies. I am also disappointed that Vice President Harris decided to skip Prime Minister Netanyahu’s important address,” Rep. Strong (R-Monrovia) wrote.
“Israel is one of America’s strongest allies and it is particularly disheartening to see her absent as Israel’s leader shared stories of the horrors and tragedies that took place on October 7th.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
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