Handful of US Democrats to steer clear of Isaac Herzog’s Congress address

Several progressive Democrats have said they will have something better to do when Israeli president Isaac Herzog addresses the US Congress next week.

New York Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, together with Missouri Rep. Cori Bush and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, said they would not attend Herzog’s speech, owing to ongoing political processes in Israel.

Analysts point out that the revolt is relatively minor, given that 58 members of Congress did not attend the 2015 address by Benjamin Netanyahu, whose appearance was seen as an overt snub to then-president Barack Obama.

Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, is due to speak to the House on Wednesday. On the agenda will be Russia’s deepening military relationship with Iran. Drones made in Iran have destroyed Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

US president Joe Biden has been critical of the Israeli government’s plans to weaken the country’s judiciary in a forced transfer of power from judges to ministers. Many fear that it will fundamentally damage Israel’s system of checks and balances.

Ocasio-Cortez, the best known of the four stayaway politicians, is no fan of Israel’s, but recently approved $1bn in funds for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.