Netanya-Who? Washington gives Israeli leader the cold shoulder

It’s Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's first afloat time successful Washington this week, and his presence has been mostly met pinch oculus rolls and enarthrosis shrugs connected Capitol Hill.

Netanyahu will reside Congress Wednesday afternoon, a monumental arena that would usually return up nan governmental oxygen successful Washington successful nan weeks starring up. An quality by a arguable far-right leader, wide chastised internationally for his handling of Israel’s devastating warfare against Hamas militants successful Gaza, has each nan ingredients ripe for attention.

But it appears Netanyahu has had very small to do successful Washington during his sojourn truthful far. Some aides connected some sides of nan aisle needed to beryllium reminded that nan leader was moreover successful town.

“I had personification inquire maine what I thought Netanyahu would opportunity successful his reside and I had to extremity and deliberation for a infinitesimal to recognize that was this week. I had wholly forgotten it was happening,” said a elder House aide.

Because of nan mind-boggling news rhythm — 1 U.S. statesmanlike campaigner was almost killed while different dropped retired of nan title a week later — Netanyahu “hasn’t really been capable to get nan traction and nan airtime they would person expected,” different House adjutant added.

A 3rd adjutant successful nan Senate underscored nan effect nan news rhythm has had, saying that Netanyahu’s sojourn is “barely registering” connected nan Hill. All were granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Outside nan Watergate Hotel, wherever Netanyahu is staying, a POLITICO newsman noticed 2 rings of fences put up, drones buzzing overhead, a wide redirection of traffic, aggregate information checkpoints and closed roads. According to posts connected X, a spattering of pro-Palestinian protestors gathered extracurricular nan Watergate analyzable connected Tuesday calling for Netanyahu’s arrest.

President Joe Biden will meet pinch Netanyahu connected Thursday, nan premier minister’s agency said, aft Biden postponed their meeting scheduled for Tuesday. It’s unclear erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris — who isn’t attending Netanyahu’s reside — will meet pinch him. Netanyahu will meet pinch Donald Trump successful Florida connected Friday, nan erstwhile president said connected Truth Social connected Tuesday.

On Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers weighed whether aliases not to be nan address, while Republicans brainstormed really they’d show support for nan embattled leader. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a staunch professional of nan Biden administration’s Israel policies, said Tuesday that he won’t be nan address.

“I garbage to beryllium a governmental prop successful this enactment of deception because he's not nan awesome guardian of nan U.S.-Israel relationship,” Van Hollen told a mini group of reporters successful his office, days aft returning from a travel to nan Middle East.

A group of legislature Democrats, including Van Hollen and respective others who scheme to boycott Netanyahu’s speech, scheme to meet connected Wednesday pinch families of Israeli hostages.

“The rumor is immoderate of us, including myself, are not going to be nan reside but want [it to be] understood that this is not astir Israel, it’s not astir nan Israel people,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, (D-Conn.), 1 of nan lawmakers starring nan effort, told POLITICO. “Every fibre of our bodies wants to get those hostages back.”

Van Hollen told reporters he doesn’t want to show support for Netanyahu erstwhile his hardline policies and partners for illustration Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are “sabotaging” U.S.-Israeli relations.

Netanyahu, who met pinch nan families aft arriving successful nan U.S. connected Monday, is besides facing governmental unit astatine location to finalize a woody for nan merchandise of nan captives and a cease-fire pinch Hamas.

Van Hollen said that successful his erstwhile meetings pinch nan relatives of hostages successful Israel, they were disappointed that Netanyahu “has not prioritized returning hostages. While I was there, location were protests successful nan thoroughfare saying, don’t spell speak to a associated convention of Congress, attraction connected releasing nan hostages.”

As of Tuesday morning, Netanyahu didn’t person plans to meet pinch cardinal overseas argumentation lawmakers: Rep. Gregory Meeks, nan House Foreign Affairs Committee's apical Democrat, said he is unfastened to a meeting pinch him. The agency of nan panel’s chair, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), said he would beryllium portion of a group of lawmakers welcoming nan premier curate and gathering pinch him afterward but wasn’t presently alert of different abstracted meetings.

Families of nan American hostages being held successful Gaza are putting immense unit connected nan premier curate to unafraid a cease-fire woody pinch Hamas militants and bring location nan hostages by nan extremity of nan week. If he doesn’t succeed, they said successful a associated statement, it would “constitute an abject nonaccomplishment of his trip.”

Liz Naftali — nan awesome aunt of Abigail Edan, who was 1 of nan Americans released during nan region successful fighting betwixt Israel and Hamas — told Netanyahu during an hour-and-a-half-long gathering connected Monday that he must telephone for a woody during his address.

“This is nan clip to make this deal,” she told POLITICO successful betwixt meetings pinch galore lawmakers connected nan Hill. “If we do not seizure this moment, these hostages whitethorn not travel home.”

The House Foreign Affairs Committee hosted a roundtable pinch nan families connected Tuesday, aft which McCaul condemned Harris and legislature Democrats complete their plans to skip nan speech, arguing nan information business Netanyahu will speak astir impacts nan U.S.

“Case successful constituent — nan committee heard from nan families of American hostages still being held by Hamas terrorists this morning,” he said successful a statement. “We request to show nan world our agreed determination to eliminate coercion and bring location each of nan hostages. I dream my colleagues will reconsider and be this important address.”

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