Portlanders protest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Several protesters showed up in Pioneer Square in downtown Portland Wednesday to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the U.S. Congress to request additional support for the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday.

A KOIN 6 News crew at the rally said there were 100 or so people there as of 11:15 a.m., along with a handful of Portland police officers.

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“To be completely honest with you, although I do appreciate that, I believe that he can do so much better,” Protest organizer Serine Abuelhawa said. “A lot of people here have asked him to do a lot more, and he can definitely do it better.”

Several leading Democrats have chosen to boycott the Netanyahu address as large protests form around the U.S. Capitol. Protesters say they hold Netanyahu responsible for the deaths of thousands of Palestinians since Hamas’ attack in October 2023.

The address was also the prime minister’s first time traveling since the International Criminal Court put a warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes.

In a statement on social media, Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said she would not attend the prime minister’s address.

“Israel is an ally, but Prime Minister Netanyahu has supported policies and military actions that are causing harm to Israelis and Palestinians,” Rep. Bonamici said. “He has not done enough to find a resolution that will end the war and free the hostages, and I fear that this address will only exacerbate political divisions in the United States and intensify the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.”

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Sen. Jeff Merkley also released a statement sharing he did not attend, saying “Netanyahu’s strategy has been to prioritize his political survival over peace and the return of hostages.”

“Netanyahu’s war strategy in Gaza is at odds with American values and law,” Sen. Merkley said. “His government’s campaign of indiscriminate bombing has driven 1.9 million people from their homes and killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians—tens of thousands of whom are women and children. In addition, his government’s restrictions on humanitarian aid have brought Gaza to the brink of famine. This continues to drive further cycles of violence, radicalization, and instability.”

Marc N. Blattner, the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, shared the following statement with KOIN 6 News:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by members of Congress to speak. He took that opportunity to share his country’s view on the war, remind people of the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, explain the detrimental role Iran continues to play, affirm his commitment to bring the hostages home, and to especially thank the United States, in particular President Biden, for its (and his) longstanding and steadfast support.

As for those protesting here and elsewhere, we recognize and respect their right and freedom to do so. Many of those individuals are calling for an immediate ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The war cannot end until Hamas releases all the remaining hostages, including several American citizens, and until Hamas no longer has the ability to threaten Israel. That is the path to peace and the potential for a two-state solution.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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