Why Are Democratic Lawmakers Still Meeting With Netanyahu?

Pictures show Democrats like Chuck Schumer standing next to Netanyahu, smiling.

By Sharon Zhang, Truthout

A bipartisan group of senators representing an eighth of the Senate posed for photos and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the U.S. this week, sparking criticism over senators’ smiles next to a man wanted in the Hague for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu met with senators on Wednesday, with leaders for both parties, Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Chuck Schumer (D-New York) in attendance. Lawmakers proudly posted photos of the meeting, saying that they discussed the genocide in Gaza and praised Israel and the U.S.’s war on Iran during the meeting.

Netanyahu also met with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), the latter of whom said in a post on social media that the two “discussed America’s commitment to Israel’s security and our shared goal of achieving a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.”

Pictures of the Senate meeting also showed Senators Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), and Adam Schiff (D-California).

The lawmakers posed next to a table set with food and drinks. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who has already drawn criticism for being on vacation in Greece amid the devastating floods in his state last week, was also at the meeting.

Lawmakers have drawn criticism for meeting with Netanyahu as his government moves toward expelling all Palestinians from Gaza, through death or force. Earlier this week, Netanyahu’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, told reporters that he has instructed the military to plan for confining all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp where they won’t be allowed to leave — a plan likened to concentration camps by advocates for Palestinian rights.

“Yesterday these Senators took part in a photo-op with Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes. Shameful,” wrote the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project in a post on social media.

“Genocide is bipartisan,” said Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan).