Interns Protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address By Calling In Sick

(NewsReady.com) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a joint session of Congress on July 24. The controversial world leader gave an impassioned speech. Almost 100 congressional interns allegedly missed his remarks.

According to reports, a letter circulated around the Senate and House that included signatures from Democratic and Republican interns who protested the prime minister. They reportedly either called into work sick or walked out while Netanyahu was making his remarks. Newsweek tried to verify the letter but wasn’t able to do so.

The interns weren’t alone. Approximately half of the Senate and House Democratic lawmakers skipped the prime minister’s speech. The boycotters included former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). They boycotted the speech to protest Netanyahu’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

About 28 Democratic senators and roughly 100 House Democrats attended the speech. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the only Palestinian lawmaker in Congress, held up a sign calling Netanyahu a “war criminal.” In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she accused Israel of running an “apartheid government” and “committing genocide against Palestinians.” The congresswoman declared, “Palestinians will not be erased.”

Netanyahu has rejected allegations that he’s committing genocide. When Hamas killed nearly 1,200 innocent Israelis, he promised he would eradicate the terrorist organization. He has not backed down from that promise, even as world leaders have called on him to change tactics.

During the speech to Congress, the Israeli leader once again promised a “total victory” against Hamas. He criticized Americans who don’t support his mission, calling them “idiots.” He called on lawmakers to “stand together” with Israel because it would cause the terrorists to lose. Netanyahu also promised to bring all of the hostages home from Gaza.

Netanyahu met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in separate meetings. He also met with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

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