Kamala Harris Declines to Preside Over Netanyahu’s Address to Congress
Vice President Kamala Harris will not preside over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, amid stark divisions within the Democratic Party regarding his handling of the war with Hamas.
An aide to Harris clarified that her absence is not a shift in her commitment to Israel’s security but is due to a scheduling conflict with a prior engagement in Indianapolis. Harris will be speaking at a convention for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., one of the country’s oldest Black sororities, and will meet with Netanyahu at the White House later in the week.
In her stead, Senator Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, will sit beside House Speaker Mike Johnson. Cardin, who is retiring, remains a steadfast supporter of Israel, even as many Democrats criticize Netanyahu’s policies and tactics in the conflict.
Senator Patty Murray, the president pro tempore, was also asked to preside but declined and will not attend the speech, according to a spokesman. Other Democrats, objecting to Netanyahu’s policies and Israel’s war conduct, have also stated their intention to boycott the address.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, was considered unsuitable for the role as he has previously criticized Netanyahu, calling him a significant obstacle to Middle East peace and suggesting new elections once the conflict subsides.
The Biden administration’s tensions with Netanyahu center on Israel’s Gaza bombardment, the impediments to humanitarian aid delivery, and the absence of a post-war governance strategy. Despite these frictions, Netanyahu’s address to Congress was arranged by bipartisan leaders, with Speaker Johnson particularly advocating for the speech to solidify support for Netanyahu amidst growing Democratic dissent.
