Cohen said, after uttering the perfunctory support and love for Israel talisman, “I believe, as do many conscientious Members of Congress, that the speech is political theater by Prime Minister Netanyahu, the head of the Likud party, just two weeks before the elections in Israel.” Rep. Cohen was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014. Cohen is Jewish.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD-7) @RepCummings 2230 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4741 Fax: (202) 225-3178
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL-7) @RepDannyDavis 2159 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 p. (202) 225-5006 f. (202) 225-5641 This past September, Rep. Davis called for an end to the blockade of Gaza, “There is an urgent need to lift the blockade, to restore free movement of people and goods to and from Gaza through Israel, Egypt and the sea.” Davis said that the daily life and conditions of the poor residents of Gaza “are intolerable due, in the first place, to the ongoing blockade.” He has never publicly criticized Hamas or the Palestinian Authority for acts of terrorism. No public statement about why he was boycotting Netanyahu’s speech was available. Rep. Davis was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Or-4) 2134 Rayburn Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 phone: 202-225-6416 In 2006,Rep. DeFazio voted against the Palestinian Sanctions Bill and received a letter of thanks from Americans for Peace Now, which his website referred to as “a leading Jewish pro-Israel group.” Also in 2006, Rep. DeFazio sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to engage in “direct diplomacy with Iran and to open up negotiation to a broad range of issues.” Rep. DeFazio was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) 66% @RepDianaDeGette 2368 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4431 Fax:(202) 225-5657 Rep. DeGette reportedly said that she is missing the Israeli prime minister’s speech due to a “long-standing scheduling commitment that morning.” The Boulder Jewish News was dubious about the explanation for DeGette’s planned absence, and harshly critical. Rep. DeGette was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.) @RepDonnaEdwards 2445 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-8699 main 202-225-8714 fax. On Feb. 11, Rep. Edwards tweeted out her decision not to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. She wrote: “Having heard from many constituents across MD4, I’ve decided not to attend the Joint Meeting w/ Prime Minister Netanyahu. #diplomacyfirst” Rep. Edwards was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-5) @KeithEllison 2263 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4755 On Nov. 27, 2013 Op-ed Supported Palestinian bid for statehood at UN, and same one in 2011, which appeared in the NYT. His op-ed invoked Martin Luther King. Ellison voted against additional U.S. funding for the Iron Dome Missile Defense system at the end of last summer’s Operation Protective Edge.
In Early Feb. Ellison, along with Rep. Steve Cohen and Maxine Waters, circulated a letter to Speaker Boehner, asking him to postpone the invitation until after the Israeli election and after Congress has considered the issue of Iran sanctions. Rep. Ellison was a J Street-endorsed candidate in 2014.
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA-2) @ChakaFattah 2301 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202.225.4001 Fax: 202.225-5392 Rep. Fattah is not on any of the lists of members of Congress who are boycotting Netanyahu’s speech. However, when his office was called early on Mar. 2 and a staffer was asked whether the Congressman would be attending Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, the caller was put on hold, and then a recording came on. The recording was purportedly of Rep. Fattah who said he has a 20 year record of support for Israel, but he would not be attending the speech.