Summary:

The 37th Legislative District Democrats have condemned U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell for her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and her support for military aid to Israel during the ongoing war in Gaza. The group criticized Cantwell for failing to "work towards peace and justice" for Palestinians and for refusing to denounce what they call "the Israeli genocide in Gaza." The resolution also links Cantwell's position to political donations from pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, which contributed more than $219,000 to her campaigns between 2019 and 2024.

The 37th Legislative District Democrats have issued a formal condemnation of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, criticizing her recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and her continued support for military aid to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

At their regular monthly meeting on August 11, the membership voted 48 to 2 in favor of a resolution faulting Cantwell for failing to “work towards peace and justice” for Palestinians. The resolution specifically cited her participation in a photo opportunity with Netanyahu during his Washington, D.C., visit in early July, as well as her refusal to denounce what the group calls “the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”

Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, has continued to meet with U.S. officials under both the Trump and Biden administrations.

Pictured (L-R): Senators Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), and Adam Schiff (D-California) posing with Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I’ve been working on this issue for a long time in the Democratic Party,” said resolution author Amy Hagopian. “It used to be very contentious to back a Palestinian state or oppose a Democratic Party elected official’s eagerness to send weapons to Israel to use in its violent campaign against Palestinians, but the more vicious and cruel Israeli Occupation Forces become, the more public opinion is shifting.”

The group also pointed to Cantwell’s July 30 vote against S.J.Res.34 — the “Block the Bombs” Act — which would have prohibited a $675 million weapons sale to Israel, including 1,000-pound bombs and guidance kits for airstrikes. Twenty-seven Democratic senators, including Washington’s other U.S. senator, Patty Murray, supported the measure.

The resolution links Cantwell’s position to political donations from pro-Israel groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which the group says contributed more than $219,000 to her campaigns between 2019 and 2024.

Washington’s 37th Legislative District includes Beacon Hill, the Central District, Rainier Valley, Columbia City, and Rainier Beach. The district’s Democratic organization meets monthly to discuss political issues, interview candidates, and hold elected officials accountable to party values.

The adopted resolution not only condemns Cantwell’s actions but also urges other members of Washington’s congressional delegation to refuse donations from AIPAC and similar organizations. It calls for federal lawmakers to push for accountability in the death of University of Washington graduate Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, who was killed by Israeli forces while protesting illegal settlements in the West Bank village of Beita.

The full resolution will be sent to Senators Cantwell and Murray, along with Representatives Adam Smith and Pramila Jayapal, within one week of passage. The group is requesting written responses to the specific action items outlined in the resolution.