Ricketts Slams Kamala Harris for Skipping Netanyahu’s Address to Congress: “This is Not How America Should Treat Its Allies”
July 23, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) slammed Vice President Kamala Harris for refusing to preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.Ricketts made the comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media.
“Israel is our strongest and closest ally in the Middle East,” Ricketts said. “It’s in our mutual interest to provide Israel with the support it needs to destroy Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages. Yet the Biden-Harris administration has repeatedly appeased the radical pro-Hamas elements of their base.”
“In fact, Vice President Harris – whose only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate – won’t be attending his speech,” Ricketts continued. “Their actions have consistently undermined Israel’s democratically elected government. This is not how America should treat its allies.”
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “Thank you for joining this press call today.
“Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be in Washington to address a joint meeting of Congress.
“Israel is our strongest and closest ally in the Middle East.
“It’s in our mutual interest to provide Israel with the support it needs to destroy the terrorist group Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
“Yet the Biden-Harris administration has repeatedly appeased the radical pro-Hamas elements of their base.
“In fact, Vice President Harris – whose only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate – won’t be attending his speech.
“Their actions have consistently undermined Israel’s democratically elected government.
“This is not how America should treat its allies.
“After taking office, this administration gave $730 million to UNRWA – an organization described as‘effectively a branch of Hamas.’
“President Trump had ended their U.S. taxpayer funding. Biden and Harris brought it back.
“Their actions caused American taxpayer dollars to directly support the terrorist organization Hamas in its attacks on our ally and our citizens.
“At least 12 UNWRA employees funded in part by the Biden-Harris administration participated in theterrorist attack on Israel that killed 1,200 Israelis, including American citizens.
“We’ve also learned that over 100 UNRWA employees have ties to Hamas or other Islamic Jihad groups.
“The Biden-Harris administration has also pressured Israel towards a ceasefire with the same barbaric terrorist organization Hamas that wants to kill Jews.
“Biden and Harris have repeatedly withheld or delayed critical shipments of weapons needed to destroy Hamas.
“They’ve attacked the legitimacy of Israel’s democratically-elected leader.
“They’ve wasted $230 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars on a failed Gaza Pier operation. It only lasted for 25 days and put American and Israeli lives at risk.
“This is not what I would call ‘ironclad’ support for Israel.
“I’m committed to giving Israel what it needs to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
“I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister for tomorrow’s speech.”