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Netanyahu Address to US Congress, ICC Arrest Warrants Lay Bare Democrat Divides Over Israel
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) makes a statement after meetings to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation, during the COVID-19 outbreak, in Washington, US, March 22, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert.
A dramatic variance in responses from US Democratic lawmakers to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to a joint session of Congress and efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek his arrest are exposing potential fractures within America’s primary left-wing party over its support for the Jewish state.
A slew of Democratic lawmakers are seething over Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) decision to sign an invitation for Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress.
Likewise, some Democrats are jubilant over ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s decision to seek an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war — an act that seemingly placed the Israeli leader on the same moral level of Hamas terrorists Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, whose arrests the ICC is also seeking.
Schumer’s weeks-long hesitation in joining Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) in extending an invitation to Netanyahu, coupled with his earlier condemnation of the Israeli premier, signaled intraparty disagreement among Democrats over the Jewish state. Netanyahu later accepted the invitation. Punchbowl News reported on Monday that the Israeli premier will address a joint meeting of Congress on June 13.
“It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited — by leaders from both parties — to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who caucuses with the Democrats. “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told reporters that Netanyahu should not be invited to speak before Congress.
“I just don’t think it’s constructive for Netanyahu to be addressing, to be doing a joint address in this moment, period,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
While appearing on a Twitch stream with anti-Israel influencer Hasan Piker, Ocasio-Cortez agreed that the Abraham Accords — a series of historic peace agreements between Israel and Arab states brokered with the help of the US — “absolutely” and “10,000 percent” motivated Hamas to commit its brutal slaughter against Israel on Oct. 7.
However, some Democrats signaled support for Netanyahu’s speech, arguing that supporting an ally in its time of need should supersede minor political disagreements.
“Even though we might have policy disagreements with [Netanyahu], as we do with some of our NATO allies, I think he should get with the speaker and make it bipartisan,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) told Axios.
Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) said that Congress is capable of acknowledging “heads of state without agreeing with everything they say.”
Likewise, Democrats are also divided over the prospect of Netanyahu potentially being handed a warrant by the ICC.
US President Biden initially called the ICC’s warrant request of Netanyahu “outrageous.” However, his administration later indicated that it would not join Republican attempts to sanction the international court.
The administration’s response to the ICC was met with criticisms by both anti-Israel and pro-Israel Democrats.
While speaking at a terrorist-connected pro-Palestinian conference, Rep. Rashida Tliab (D-MI), lambasted the Biden administration for “attacking the authority” of the ICC.
“The International Court of Justice just ruled that the Israeli government must stop its invasion of Rafah, but President Biden says what’s happening in Gaza is not a genocide,” Tlaib said. “Where’s your red line, President Biden?”
Tlaib’s forceful condemnation of Biden irked some of her colleagues.
“If people don’t like Biden and successfully work against his re-election, they’ll be responsible for the the undoing of America,” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) told Axios.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) drew a direct contrast to Tlaib, saying, “[I am] using every ounce of my free time to support President Biden. … He has been transparent and dedicated to Israel and I am proud to support his foreign aid agenda that protects democracy and stands by the Jewish people worldwide.”
A group of 19 Democrats issued a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week, urging the Biden administration to pursue sanctions against the ICC.
“We urge the administration to consult with Congress to immediately impose sanctions against the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and any other officials who have demonstrated undue bias in their actions,” the letter read.
“The charges against Israeli leaders are baseless. They reflect the ICC’s well-documented historical bias against Israel. The evidence is clear: Hamas terrorists are responsible for wreaking havoc and sowing destruction,” the letter continued.
Democrats have found themselves increasingly divided over Israel in recent months. Progressive Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) have suggested that Israel’s military response to Hamas is tantamount to “genocide.” Meanwhile, moderate Democrats such as Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and John Fetterman (D-PA) have steadfastly supported the Jewish state’s military campaign to dislodge the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
The post Netanyahu Address to US Congress, ICC Arrest Warrants Lay Bare Democrat Divides Over Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, waits to welcome the senior Ukrainian delegation led by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, after the ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
i24 News – The United States has begun sharing classified intelligence with Syria’s new leadership, led by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly designated as a terrorist organization, reports the Washington Post.
This unexpected collaboration comes in the wake of HTS overthrowing the Assad regime last month and reflects heightened US concerns about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to sources, US intelligence recently helped thwart a planned ISIS attack on a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus.
Despite this cooperation, US officials stress that the intelligence-sharing arrangement does not signify full support for HTS, which has a controversial history of extremism.
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously known by his militant alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has made efforts to project a more moderate image, pledging to protect Syria’s religious minorities and stabilize the country.
However, skepticism remains about HTS’s ability to govern effectively and sustain efforts against ISIS.
The Biden administration, before leaving office, maintained HTS’s terrorist designation while easing sanctions on Syria to facilitate humanitarian aid. As the new US administration under President Donald Trump takes shape, questions loom about the future of American involvement in Syria and the ongoing military presence aimed at preventing an ISIS comeback.
The post US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List
A birthday cake for Kfir Bibas, who is a hostage in Hamas captivity. Thursday, January 18, 2024. (Photo: Debbie Weiss)
i24 News – The second phase of hostage releases between Israel and Hamas has sparked deep frustration and grief among the families of those still held captive.
Two hostages—Arbel Yahud and Agam Berger—were notably excluded from the list of those to be freed on Saturday, despite earlier agreements prioritizing the return of civilians.
Arbel Yahud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, both captives since the October 7 attack, were not included in the list of four hostages expected to be released.
Yahud, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was taken along with her partner, Ariel Cunio, whose family was freed in November. Yahud’s brother, Dolev, was later found dead in June after he was killed while trying to aid the wounded. Agam Berger, from Holon, was captured while stationed at Nahal Oz. Her family identified her in a video released by Hamas, showing her in pajamas being taken away in a vehicle after she called her father to alert him of the gunfire.
The omission of these two hostages has led to heightened concerns and calls for action from Israeli authorities, who are now exerting pressure on Hamas and mediators to honor the terms of the release agreement. Israeli officials reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the broader agreement, but warned that the failure to meet the agreed terms could harm future releases.
Adding to the grief, the Bibas family expressed their devastation when they learned that Shiri Bibas and her children, who were abducted from their Nir Oz home on October 7, were also absent from the second release list. In a heartfelt message shared on Saturday, the Bibas family shared their anguish: “Even though we were prepared for it, we were hoping to see Shiri and the children on the list that was supposed to be the civilian list.” The family voiced concerns over their loved one’s safety and questioned why, despite grave fears for their lives, their relatives were not included among the civilians due to be returned.
The Bibas family’s message emphasized their belief that the public must continue to demand answers, adding, “Thank you, dear supporters, for not giving up, for continuing to pray, to hope and to demand answers.
The post Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity
A combination picture shows Israeli hostages Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, and Daniela Gilboa, soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in these undated handout pictures. Photo: Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS
i24 News – After 477 harrowing days in captivity, four young Israeli women—Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa—have finally returned home.
The release took place Saturday morning in Gaza’s Palestine Square, under a carefully staged scene orchestrated by Hamas.
The four women, who served in a military observation unit in Nahal Oz, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Before their release, they were made to wear uniforms provided by Hamas and were paraded on a platform in front of a crowd of activists. Forced to smile and wave, the women endured the ordeal under the watchful eyes of Hamas fighters.
Once the formalities concluded, the women walked to waiting ICRC vehicles, accompanied by representatives of the organization. Upon reaching Israeli forces, IDF medical teams immediately conducted examinations. At the meeting point, the first female officers who greeted them informed the women that their families were watching live. Overcome with emotion, the former hostages smiled at the cameras, sending heartfelt gestures to their loved ones.
Footage later released by the IDF captured a poignant moment: the four women removing the uniforms given to them by Hamas and embracing Israeli officers. These emotional scenes underscored the end of a long and grueling chapter in their lives.
The women were transported to the Reim reception center, where their families eagerly awaited them. After 477 days of separation, the reunions were deeply moving, marking a moment of relief and joy.
However, the release was not without complications. A fifth military observer, Agam Berger, remains in captivity, and Hamas failed to uphold its agreement to release civilian hostage Arbel Yahud, who was originally included in the liberation group. The breach of terms has drawn widespread condemnation, intensifying efforts to secure the release of those who remain captive.
This momentous event brings a mix of celebration and determination, as Israel continues to work tirelessly for the freedom of all hostages still held in Gaza.
The post Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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