Counter events challenge Netanyahu’s address to Congress

Several events are expected to tie thousands of protestors to Capitol Hill connected Wednesday up of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s day reside to Congress.

In Room 210 successful nan Cannon House Office Building, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) plans to reside an assemblage astatine an arena called “Peace is Possible: An Alternative Vision for Israel and Palestine” arsenic Netanyahu delivers his speech. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) was besides expected to speak, but he had to propulsion retired aft being diagnosed pinch Covid, his agency told POLITICO.

The arena will spotlight 2 activists who flew from nan Middle East to shape nan antagonistic event: Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian whose relative died while being held successful an Israeli prison, and Maoz Inon, whose parents were killed by Hamas connected Oct. 7.

“I was shocked by nan congressmen successful nan U.S. that they chose to beryllium successful nan acheronian broadside of history,” Inon told POLITICO successful an question and reply astatine a java shop connected Capitol Hill.

Abu Sarah said nan U.S. has go excessively accustomed to staying engaged successful subject conflicts without uncovering a semipermanent solution: “Our extremity is to show Congress that that's a stupid policy.”

Several different Democratic lawmakers will besides meet pinch families of American hostages alternatively of attending nan address.

“One point that I cognize is that to bash nan premier curate is not going to get america nan support we request for him to make this deal” to bring nan hostages home, said Liz Naftali, nan awesome aunt of Abigail Edan, who was 1 of nan Americans released during nan region successful fighting betwixt Israel and Hamas.

She added: “What we do is we support pushing Republicans and Democrats to put connected nan pressure.”

And thousands of group are expected to stitchery connected Capitol Hill to protestation earlier Netanyahu’s speech, spearheaded by respective Black, Indigenous and multiracial activistic groups. Among their demands: that Israel halts its subject cognition successful Gaza and nan U.S. ends subject assistance to Israel.

“He is not invited successful D.C., wherever communities person travel for decades to request justness against oppression,” Mohammed Khader, argumentation head astatine nan US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, told POLITICO.