An Eleventh-Hour Appeal to the Prime Minister—Get Back on the Plane!

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,

I wrote to you on May 26, 2024, imploring you to decline the invitation to address a joint session of Congress. Since I have not received a reply, I assume my letter did not reach you. Now that you have arrived in the US, preparing to deliver your speech on Wednesday, I appeal to you as a concerned American rabbi to reconsider. Your appearance before Congress will only stoke the fires of antisemitism and fuel the flames of hatred towards Israel.

Mr. Prime Minister, I speak from experience. In 1999, three synagogues in our community were firebombed, causing millions of dollars in damage. The psychological scars remain to this day. As you must be aware, incidents of Jew hatred are increasing exponentially across America and throughout the world.

If you truly care about the well-being of Israel and the Jews of the Diaspora, then I urge you, even at this eleventh hour, to get back on your plane and return to Israel. No matter the content of your speech or how eloquently it is delivered, you are a lightning rod and a polarizing figure. Many senators and representatives in Congress will protest your appearance by absenting themselves when you ascend the podium. Outside the Capitol, there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters.

Many view your 2015 address before Congress – nominally to oppose the Iran nuclear deal – as an unprecedented controversial intrusion into this country’s internal politics. Your appearance before Congress on Wednesday will be viewed the same way and will risk exacerbating already unprecedented levels of antisemitism and violence in America, providing no substantive benefit to Israel.

If you need further convincing, then I urge you to read New York Times Columnist Bret Stephens, who on July 2,  eloquently summed up all the reasons you should not speak to Congress. He argued that an Israeli prime minister would avoid delivering a speech to Congress when a war in Lebanon looms. Instead of highlighting partisan divisions in the US, the Prime Minister would focus on mending ties with Democratic leaders and liberal Americans, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to progressive values in the Middle East.

Mr. Prime Minister, as Stephens suggested, this approach would strengthen Israel’s support base and foster unity at a critical time.

Mr. Prime Minister, I have family in Israel. As you are surely aware, many of your fellow citizens in Israel are appalled by the enormous damage caused to the nation on your watch. During your tenure, the Israel I love has become a deeply divided nation; you are no longer an effective representative of the Jewish people.

We Jews in America, as well as our brethren in Israel, need healing and unity — not more division.

It is incomprehensible to me, that as Israel is defending itself from continued attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, and now the Houthis in Yemen, you have decided to come to America, which will only heighten tensions and create further unrest.

Mr. Prime Minister, please do the right thing: head back to Israel and prioritize the return of the hostages.

I have no doubt that the US-Israel relationship will remain strong, bolstered by bipartisan support, without your intrusion into our internal affairs.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Reuven H. Taff