Herzog US trip sets off debate over 'racist' Israel

Israeli president Isaac Herzog's upcoming meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House, his second in under ten months, is more than ceremonial this time. It comes against the backdrop of growing US criticism of the Israeli government for initiating controversial legislation meant to limit the powers of the supreme court and ongoing illegal settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. 

During his visit, Herzog is set to meet with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders. On Wednesday, he will become the second Israeli president to address Congress.

"I will speak of the relationship between Israel and the United States, a deep relationship based on shared values that go back generations and transcends administrations and governments", Herzog remarked before heading to Washington. 

At least five US lawmakers from the Democratic party announced they would boycott the Israeli president's address to Congress. 

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush's offices have confirmed that they would not be attending the speech in support of Rep. Ilhan Omar, who was the first to announce the decision. 

Palestinian American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is also boycotting the July 19 speech. 

The snubbing of the Israeli president by 'the squad' underscores the rift among democrats in Congress over Israel and US policies towards it. 

Over the weekend Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, said at a conference that Israel "is a racist state," prompting swift censure from House Democratic leaders. 

She quickly backtracked her comments but stated, "I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist. I do, however, believe that Netanyahu's extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government."

In solidarity with the Palestinian people and all those who have been harmed by Israel's apartheid government, I will be boycotting President Herzog’s joint address to Congress.

I urge all Members of Congress who stand for human rights for all to join me. #BoycottApartheid pic.twitter.com/2ixUdCT1Kq

— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) July 17, 2023

On Monday night, the Israeli PM's office issued a statement saying that Biden and Netanyahu had "a long and warm conversation" over a range of issues, including Iran, "expanding the circle of peace and the continued efforts to deescalate and stabilize the situation in Judea and Samaria," the Israeli terms for the occupied West Bank. 

"President Biden invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet soon in the United States", the statement added without mentioning details of when or where the meeting would occur. 

The Biden administration declined to say whether Biden would host Netanyahu at the White House — as the Israeli leader has hoped — or in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

White House visits are typically standard protocol for Israeli prime ministers, and the delay in Netanyahu receiving one has become an issue in Israel, with opponents citing it as a reflection of deteriorating relations with the US.

Herzog's visit and the Biden-Netanyahu phone call come weeks after Israeli forces carried out one of their most intensive operations in the West Bank in two decades, with a two-day air and ground offensive in Jenin, a Palestinian militant stronghold in the occupied West Bank.