Attending a Joint Session of Congress to hear the speech of our most trusted ally is a Senator’s solemn responsibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2024

Albuquerque, NM – Martin Heinrich said today he plans to boycott Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before Congress and the American people. Unlike Martin Heinrich, Nella Domenici said she would absolutely attend. 

“A Joint Session of Congress is one of the most important audiences given to a world leader and United States Senators have a duty to attend and listen. In the case of Israel--now--at this time of war--it is a solemn occasion with extremely significant diplomatic implications.  Israel deserves our unified and unwavering support.”  

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviewed Heinrich yesterday and asked him if he would attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of the United States Congress, where the Israeli leader will look “to anchor the bipartisan support that is so important for Israel.” 

Heinrich refuses to attend the speech, saying that Netanyahu is not a “constructive or forward-leaning partner” when it comes to peace in the Middle East and the preservation and survival of Israel. 

Nella Domenici disagrees with Martin Heinrich. 

She pointed out that “Israel is at war because it was viciously attacked on October 7th. Israel is our most trusted ally in the Middle East. Hamas is a terrorist group and a proxy for Iran. Its leadership is committed to “wiping Israel off the face of the earth” and “Death to America.” Recently, a Hamas spokesperson called for “violent acts against American and British interests everywhere. In many respects, Israel’s war is our war.”

There have only been four world leaders who have been invited to address a Joint Session this Congress. Nella Domenici said, “I unequivocally support Israel, the longstanding U.S. policy recognizing Israel’s right to exist and its right to self-defense. Hamas uses civilians as human shields and builds its tunnels and weapons’ storehouses under schools and hospitals where Hamas leaders hide.”

Nella Domenici is a strong supporter of Israel.  Martin Heinrich is not. 

See the exchange here:

Andrea Mitchell: “Are you going to the speech tomorrow?”

No show Heinrich: “I am not.”  

Mitchell: “And why aren’t you going?”

No show Heinrich: “I would like to see Bibi Netanyahu be a more constructive forward-leaning, solution-seeking partner in all of this.”

Here are examples of Martin Heinrich’s anti-Israel record: 

• Martin Heinrich voted for Bernie Sander’s Resolution Requesting information on Israel’s human rights practices—a position that could have jeopardized Israel military aid and operations potentially freezing military aid to Israel when it is at war with the terrorist group Hamas. (2024) 

• He co-authors letters with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to President Biden and Secretary Blinken that raise concerns about humanitarian conditions of the Palestinians but expresses no concern for the Israeli and American hostages that Hamas has been holding since October 7. (2023) 

• He supports the 2-state solution. (2017) 

• He opposed the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. (2017) 

• He supported the 2016 UN Security Council Resolution 2334 which would have threatened the legitimacy of the state of Israel and its settlements. (2016) 

• He supported the Iran Nuclear deal. (2015) 

• He voted to allow Iran to access over $100 billion in foreign assets. (2015) 

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