The arrival of has touched off a flurry of protests in the nation害羞草研究所檚 capital, including a sit-in at a congressional office building that ended with multiple arrests.
Some of the demonstrations have condemned Israel but others have expressed support while pressing Netanyahu to and bring home the hostages still being held by Hamas.
The Capitol Police said about 200 people were arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from the Cannon sit-in. Jewish Voice for Peace said many more than that were arrested, rabbis among them.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday for a visit that includes meetings with President Joe Biden and a speech Wednesday before a joint session of Congress. Dozens of protesters rallied outside his hotel Monday evening, and on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators staged a flashmob-style protest in the Cannon Building, which houses offices of House of Representatives members.
Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, protesters wearing red T-shirts that read 害羞草研究所淣ot In Our Name害羞草研究所� took over the building害羞草研究所檚 rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting 害羞草研究所淟et Gaza Live!害羞草研究所�
After about a half-hour of protesters害羞草研究所� clapping and chanting, officers from the U.S. Capitol Police issued several warnings, then began arresting demonstrators 害羞草研究所� binding their hands with zip ties and leading them away one by one.
害羞草研究所淚 am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like,害羞草研究所� said Jane Hirschmann, a native of Saugerties, New York, who drove down for the protest along with her two daughters 害羞草研究所� both of whom were arrested. 害羞草研究所淲hen we say 害羞草研究所楴ever Again,害羞草研究所� we mean never for anybody.害羞草研究所�
The demonstrators turned much of their ire on the Biden administration, demanding that the president immediately cease all arms shipments to Israel.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not focusing on Netanyahu. He害羞草研究所檚 just a symptom,害羞草研究所� Hirschmann said. 害羞草研究所淏ut how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when he害羞草研究所檚 sending them bombs and planes?害羞草研究所�
Mitchell Rivard, chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said his office called for Capitol Police intervention after the demonstrators 害羞草研究所渂ecame disruptive, violently beating on the office doors, shouting loudly, and attempting to force entry into the office.害羞草研究所�
Kildee later told The Associated Press that he was confused why his office was targeted, given that he had voted against a massive supplemental military aid package to Israel earlier this year.
Families of some of the remaining hostages held a protest vigil Tuesday evening on the National Mall, demanding that Netanyahu come to terms with Hamas and bring home the approximately 120 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza.
About 150 people wearing yellow shirts that read 害羞草研究所淪eal the Deal NOW!害羞草研究所� chanted 害羞草研究所淏ring Them Home害羞草研究所� and listened to testimonials from relatives and former hostages. The demonstrators applauded when Biden害羞草研究所檚 name was mentioned, but several criticized Netanyahu 害羞草研究所� known by his nickname 害羞草研究所淏ibi害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� on the belief that he was dragging his feet or playing hardball on a proposed cease-fire deal that would return all of the hostages.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 begging Bibi 害羞草研究所� there害羞草研究所檚 a deal on the table and you have to take it,害羞草研究所� said Aviva Siegel, 63, who spent 51 days in captivity and whose husband, Keith, remains a hostage. 害羞草研究所淚 want Bibi to look in my eyes and tell me one thing: that Keith is coming home.害羞草研究所�
Multiple protests are planned for Wednesday, when Netanyahu is slated to address Congress. In anticipation, police have significantly boosted security around the Capitol building and for most of the week.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet Thursday, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity before a White House announcement. Vice President Kamala Harris will also meet Netanyahu separately that day.
Harris, as Senate president, would normally sit behind foreign leaders addressing Congress, but she害羞草研究所檒l be away Wednesday, on an Indianapolis trip scheduled before Biden withdrew his reelection bid and she became the likely Democratic presidential candidate over the weekend.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he would meet with Netanyahu on Friday.
