Several Former Israeli Officials Call for Cancellation of Netanyahu's Upcoming Speech to Congress

A group of senior former Israeli officials has requested the U.S. Congress to withdraw the invitation for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak next month. These former officials, including former Prime Ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, renowned author David Grossman, Nobel laureate Aharon Chechik, and two other Israeli figures, made this request in a letter published in the New York Times on Wednesday. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a few weeks ago that Netanyahu would be invited to speak. Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer supported the invitation sent by Johnson. Netanyahu's speech is scheduled for August 5. However, some Democrats have expressed concerns about his speech in Congress, especially after Netanyahu's repeated statements in the past two weeks claiming that the Biden administration has disrupted arms shipments to Israel. Netanyahu also spoke in Congress shortly before the U.S. and Iran reached the JCPOA during Barack Obama's presidency, which strained his relations with the ruling Democrats at that time, when Joe Biden was Obama's vice president. The White House has rejected Netanyahu's position regarding the suspension of arms shipments to Israel in recent weeks. Netanyahu stated that while his country is at war against the extremist group Hamas in Gaza and responding to the recent nine-month attacks by Hezbollah in northern Israel, there must be assurance of regular arms shipments. The former Israeli officials opposing their Prime Minister's presence in Congress stated in their New York Times position that Netanyahu has rejected Biden's plan for peace, aid to Gaza residents, and the removal of Hamas from power in Gaza through the establishment of a peacekeeping force. They believe allowing Netanyahu to speak in Congress ignores the 'anger and pain' of the Israeli people who have protested against him, and 'such an event should not happen.' The request from the former Israeli officials was published in the 'Opinions' section of the New York Times. These officials have supported approximately a year-long protest movement in Israel against the judicial reforms proposed by Netanyahu's government. The attack by the extremist group Hamas on Israeli territory last October and the start of the war in Gaza temporarily quelled these protests. However, protests against Netanyahu and calls for early parliamentary elections have resumed alongside the ongoing war. According to polls, Netanyahu's opponents are unlikely to form a government in any potential early elections, and the ruling Likud party and a coalition of right-wing and religious parties will still represent the majority of society. The letter from former Israeli officials in the New York Times has faced domestic criticism in Israel.