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Kamala Harris Will Not Preside Over Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address To Congress, Security Heightened Around U.S. Capitol

Kamala Harris will not preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday.

Instead of attending the address, Harris will hold a separate meeting with Netanyahu later this week.

According to CNN, an aide to Harris said she will miss the speech due to a previously scheduled event.

“It is outrageous to me and inexcusable that, as the leader mentioned, that Kamala Harris is boycotting this joint session,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said.

“She will not be there because she refuses to attend. She needs to be held accountable for that,” he added.

WATCH:

Per CNN:

A date for the Netanyahu-Harris meeting has not been announced, but it will be separate from President Joe Biden’s planned meeting with the Israeli prime minister.

The closely watched bilateral will mark Harris’ first meeting with a world leader since Biden stepped aside from his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris’ candidacy.

Harris is expected to “continue her intensive engagement on the conflict in Gaza,” the aide said, noting that she is expected to underscore a commitment to ensuring Israel can defend itself, condemn Hamas’ attack on October 7 and reiterate concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

“We anticipate the Vice President will convey her view that it is time for the war to end in a way where Israel is secure, all hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can enjoy their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination,” according to the aide. “And they will discuss efforts to reach agreement on the ceasefire deal.”

On Wednesday, Harris is set to address Zeta Phi Beta sorority’s Grand Boule in Indianapolis for a moderated conversation, an effort to engage Black women voters.

Netanyahu reportedly requested a meeting with President Trump.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Requests to Meet With President Trump

However, it's unconfirmed if Trump has agreed to a meeting with the Israeli prime minister.

Reuters reports that leader of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will preside over Netanyahu's address to Congress.

From Reuters:

The vice president, who serves as president of the Senate, was scheduled to be in Indiana on Wednesday. An aide said she would meet with Netanyahu separately this week.

Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's Democratic chairperson, will be presiding, an aide said on Monday. Democratic Senator Patty Murray, who as president pro tempore normally would preside in the absence of Harris, said she was not attending Netanyahu's address.

"Securing a lasting, mutual ceasefire is of the utmost importance right now, and I will continue to push for one to be reached as soon as possible," Murray said in a statement.

She added that she hoped Netanyahu would use his speech to address how he plans to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace.

Murray is one of a few members of Congress who have said they will skip the address. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Netanyahu should not be welcomed into Congress and in a statement harshly criticized his "war machine."

Security has heightened around the U.S. Capitol building ahead of Netanyahu's speech.

"Much of the Capitol campus will be closed to the public on Wednesday as thousands of people are expected to descend on the Hill to protest a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," Roll Call noted.

Roll Call reports:

The Capitol Visitor Center and Library of Congress will be closed to tourists, and the U.S. Botanic Garden will shutter, right as plant lovers are enjoying the bloom of its iconic corpse flowers. U.S. Capitol Police are bracing for large-scale demonstrations.

“For safety reasons, we never provide specific security details, but generally we can say that our plan includes adding more officers — including from several outside agencies — continuing our robust intelligence sharing with our partners, and ensuring that we have enough resources for our teams,” a Capitol Police spokesperson said.

The department had already “been operating in a heightened threat environment for several months” and had been working with “federal, state and local partners” ahead of Netanyahu’s visit, according to the spokesperson. Netanyahu was invited to address Congress by House and Senate leadership in May, to the chagrin of many progressive Democrats and activists.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza was launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that left more than 1,100 dead and hundreds held hostage. In the months since, Israel’s military has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry.

The conflict has drawn condemnation from the international community, driven a wedge in the Democratic Party, and prompted a drumbeat of protests in and around the Capitol since last October that could crescendo Wednesday with Netanyahu’s appearance.


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