DAWN Statement on Upcoming Netanyahu Speech to Congress

(July 23, 2024, Washington, DC)—On the occasion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, DC, to deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress, DAWN issues the following statement:

"It's hard to imagine a greater blow to American credibility and standing around the world than for our Congress to host the prime minister of Israel, an indicted and hopefully soon-to-be arrested war criminal, responsible for the gravest mass atrocities against Palestinians the world has ever seen," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN. "It's a great stain on our nation that our elected leaders have chosen to honor the leader of a country facing prosecution for genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation."

"The Biden administration should not let Netanyahu seek a quid-quo-pro to secure more American arms and diplomatic support in exchange for ending Israel's criminal, genocidal assault in Gaza," said Raed Jarrar, director of advocacy at DAWN.

"It's a source of shame to watch the Israeli prime minister receive some of the highest honors this country can give a foreign leader just days after the world court declared illegal his flagship policy of permanent occupation," said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, director of research for Israel-Palestine at DAWN.