The arrival of has touched off a flurry of protests in the nationB次元官网网址檚 capital, including a sit-in at a congressional office building that ended with multiple arrests.
Some of the demonstrations have condemned Israel but others have expressed support while pressing Netanyahu to and bring home the hostages still being held by Hamas.
The Capitol Police said about 200 people were arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from the Cannon sit-in. Jewish Voice for Peace said many more than that were arrested, rabbis among them.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday for a visit that includes meetings with President Joe Biden and a speech Wednesday before a joint session of Congress. Dozens of protesters rallied outside his hotel Monday evening, and on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators staged a flashmob-style protest in the Cannon Building, which houses offices of House of Representatives members.
Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, protesters wearing red T-shirts that read B次元官网网址淣ot In Our NameB次元官网网址� took over the buildingB次元官网网址檚 rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting B次元官网网址淟et Gaza Live!B次元官网网址�
After about a half-hour of protestersB次元官网网址� clapping and chanting, officers from the U.S. Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting demonstrators B次元官网网址� binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one by one.
B次元官网网址淚 am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like,B次元官网网址� said Jane Hirschmann, a native of Saugerties, New York, who drove down for the protest along with her two daughters B次元官网网址� both of whom were arrested. B次元官网网址淲hen we say B次元官网网址楴ever Again,B次元官网网址� we mean never for anybody.B次元官网网址�
The demonstrators turned much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not focusing on Netanyahu. HeB次元官网网址檚 just a symptom,B次元官网网址� Hirschmann said. B次元官网网址淏ut how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when heB次元官网网址檚 sending them bombs and planes?B次元官网网址�
Mitchell Rivard, chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said his office called for Capitol Police intervention after the demonstrators B次元官网网址渂ecame disruptive, violently beating on the office doors, shouting loudly, and attempting to force entry into the office.B次元官网网址�
Kildee later told The Associated Press that he was confused why his office was targeted, given that he had voted against a massive supplemental military aid package to Israel earlier this year.
Families of some of the remaining hostages held a protest vigil Tuesday evening on the National Mall, demanding that Netanyahu come to terms with Hamas and bring home the approximately 120 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza.
About 150 people wearing yellow shirts that read B次元官网网址淪eal the Deal NOW!B次元官网网址� chanted B次元官网网址淏ring Them HomeB次元官网网址� and listened to testimonials from relatives and former hostages. The demonstrators applauded when BidenB次元官网网址檚 name was mentioned, but several criticized Netanyahu B次元官网网址� known by his nickname B次元官网网址淏ibiB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� on the belief that he was dragging his feet or playing hardball on a proposed cease-fire deal that would return all of the hostages.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 begging Bibi B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 a deal on the table and you have to take it,B次元官网网址� said Aviva Siegel, 63, who spent 51 days in captivity and whose husband, Keith, remains a hostage. B次元官网网址淚 want Bibi to look in my eyes and tell me one thing: that Keith is coming home.B次元官网网址�
Multiple protests are planned for Wednesday, when Netanyahu is slated to address Congress. In anticipation, police have significantly boosted security around the Capitol building and for most of the week.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet Thursday, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity before a White House announcement. Vice President Kamala Harris will also meet Netanyahu separately that day.
Harris, as Senate president, would normally sit behind foreign leaders addressing Congress, but sheB次元官网网址檒l be away Wednesday, on an Indianapolis trip scheduled before Biden withdrew his reelection bid and she became the likely Democratic presidential candidate over the weekend.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he would meet with Netanyahu on Friday.
