Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Ahead Of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Joint Address To Congress
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reflected on the tragic suffering of so many people stemming from the October 7th Hamas attack and ensuing war in Gaza. He urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to set aside his self-serving political interests ahead of his Joint Address to Congress. In a statement released yesterday, Durbin stated he will not be attending today’s address.
“I believe this invitation to speak was ill-timed—and one which the Prime Minister should have had the good sense to decline. But if there is one thing we know about Netanyahu, it is that he never misses an opportunity to further his political agenda,” said Durbin.
“Let me be clear: There are nations and proxy groups that seek to destroy Israel, and that is not something we can or ever should take lightly. We’ve seen this with the horrific slaughter by Hamas on October 7, the subsequent Iranian missile barrage, the ongoing attacks by Hezbollah, and the continued holding of innocent Israeli hostages—including Hersh Goldberg-Polin with ties to my state of Illinois. That is why I have long supported helping Israel in its self-defense. But let me also make clear that support for Israel’s right to exist is not a blank check for the extremist policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Durbin continued.
During his speech, Durbin highlighted Netanyahu’s agenda in which he was pursuing a deeply troubling agenda compelled by his self-interested desire to hold together his far-right coalition and avoid legal trouble. In his remarks, Durbin stated that Netanyahu created a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, enabled illegal settlement expansion, entertained outrageous proposals to annex the West Bank, advanced policies that would have undermined Israel’s judicial independence, and ignored any long-term vision for peace with the Palestinians.
“Nudges from Israel’s friends, including President Biden, to rethink these policies were too often brushed aside or manipulated to foment domestic political support,” Durbin said. “Tragically, it has been clear for years that neither the current Israeli nor Palestinian leadership has the vision or political will to find a lasting peace for two peoples—with tragic consequences.”
“Shortly after the October 7 attack by Hamas, many of us warned our Israeli friends to learn from our own mistakes we made in the fog of rage and pain following September 11, 2001. But I fear these lessons have been lost upon Netanyahu and the costs for Israelis and Palestinians alike, have been heartbreaking. Netanyahu has failed to create a post-conflict plan and has ignored increased settler violence in the West Bank and extremists blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza… And in the end, I fear the devastating civilian toll in Gaza will not only be judged a moral and humanitarian calamity, but a likely strategic failure as well,” Durbin said.
Durbin has long supported a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians
Durbin concluded, “So, with the right leaders on both sides, it can be done… And the United States has a responsibility for a renewed push on all sides toward this goal, one in which Israeli and Palestinian children can once and for all live together safely, in peace and dignity. A pending ceasefire that would see hostages released, humanitarian aid increased, and eventually lead to such a desperately needed outcome seems finally within reach… So, instead of stirring the same old pot, I urge Netanyahu to share such a vision for the future when he speaks to the United States Congress today.”
Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available here for TV Stations.
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