Bernie Sanders condemns speech to Congress by ‘war criminal’ Netanyahu

The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has condemned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to the US Congress, calling him a "war criminal" presiding over a "rightwing extremist government".

Sanders delivered his remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday as Congress expects Netanyahu to give a speech to Congress on Wednesday afternoon. The speech comes after an underwhelming arrival to the US, just after President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from November's elections.

"Tomorrow will be unique in bringing Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress," said Sanders on Tuesday. "It will be the first time in American history that a war criminal has been given that honor."

Sanders said of Netanyahu: "He should not be welcome in the United States Congress."

Several Democratic lawmakers were planning to boycott the speech on Wednesday.

Kamala Harris, the Democratic party's presumptive presidential nominee, will not be attending because of a scheduling conflict, according to an aide.

Netanyahu is slated to meet with the House speaker, Mike Johnson, and the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, before the speech.