A large number of Democratic members of the US Congress boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech today, Politico reported on Wednesday.
According to a running tally of public data collected by Politico, many of the Democratic Party's most prominent congressional luminaries will not be on the House floor to hear Netanyahu speak today.
Among the most prominent figures who refused to attend the speech:
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Patty Murray.
Senator Bernie Sanders.
Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Rep. Ro Khanna (California)
The newspaper pointed out that more than 50 members of the Democratic Party in Congress announced their intention to boycott Netanyahu's speech or not attend it, and it is expected that more representatives will announce their non-attendance later today.
The newspaper pointed out that this number is close to the 58 members of Congress who missed Netanyahu's speech in 2015.
According to the newspaper, the decision of the Democratic representatives was not well received by many Republicans, as Republican Senator John Cornyn described the Democrats’ boycott of Netanyahu’s speech as “shameful” and “a concession to the most extreme elements of the Democratic Party base.”
Cornyn's statement came inside the US House of Representatives before Netanyahu's speech.
It is worth noting that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not shake Netanyahu's hand when he entered the chamber, and instead merely nodded as Netanyahu passed by.
Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was warmly introduced as he shook hands with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as he arrived to address a joint session of Congress.
US media reported that Capitol Police began spraying pepper spray at protesters who were trying to cross the line set up by police ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in Congress.
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