Welch calls speech ‘political stunt,’ Sanders calls Israeli PM ‘war criminal’
Guy Page
Vermont is the only state in the Union whose entire Congressional delegation boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress Wednesday, July 24.
According to VDC sources, both of the senators from Maine, the State of Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Vermont declined to attend. However, Vermont was the only one of those states in which each (in Vermont’s case, only) member of the House of Representatives also boycotted the speech.
Vice-President Kamala Harris also did not attend, departing from the historic precedent of both Speaker of the House and Vice-President sitting behind speakers to the joint meeting of Congress.
Each Vermont member of Congress explained their non-attendance on social media.
Sen. Peter Welch
“While I welcome a constructive discussion on how to end the conflict in Gaza and achieve lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians, I’m not interested in participating in a political stunt. I will not be attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address,” Welch said on X.
Pushback on his X post was strong.
“It is disrespectful for any sitting member of the U.S. Congress to boycott Netanyahu’s speech today,” said Rachel Feldman, a state employee and former chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Phil Scott. “It’s disrespectful to Netanyahu, but more so it’s disrespectful to the people of the United States of America and your constituents in Vermont.”
“By not attending, you are literally participating in a political stunt,” Eitan Fishberger said.
Other commenters supported Welch’s decision: “Thank you senator. I know you will face backlash but you are on the right side here and have the support of the American people with morals.”
Another person shared a screenshot of an OpenSecrets.org page showing Welch has received $133,000 in campaign contributions from pro-Israel groups from 1990-2024.
Rep. Becca Balint
“I will not be attending Netanyahu’s address and will instead join families of the hostages taken in the October 7 attack,” Balint said on a July 24 X post. “I vehemently object to giving the Prime Minister a platform when his failed leadership has brought so much death and destruction to Palestinians and Israelis.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Vermont’s senior senator and longtime critic of Israeli government policies stated bluntly: “Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be addressing Congress.” In another X post he wrote: No, Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the U.S. Congress. On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned. As I stated last month, I will not be attending his address.”
In speech, Netanyahu describes Oct. 6 surprise attack
As reported by (and excerpted from) the July 24 edition of The Center Square, In his speech before lawmakers, Netanyahu explained in detail Oct. 7, the day when about 3,000 Hamas militants entered Israel and “butchered 1,200 people from 41 countries, including 39 Americans.”
That attack sparked a fierce response from Israel, which has been conducting missile strikes in Gaza for months to destroy the extensive network of underground tunnels the terror group uses to move weapons and supplies – and even pathways into Israel itself.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians, however, have been killed by bombs and crossfire, drawing rebuke from progressives and setting off a wave of protests across the country.
Many have placed the blame squarely on Netanyahu, saying he should do more to protect civilians, with many calling for a ceasefire.