Dave Matthews Joins Protest Against Netanyahu, Says He’s ‘Disgusted’ at Congress for Inviting Him to Speak: ‘I’m Ashamed Our Government Is Welcoming Him Here’

Dave Matthews spoke to Al Jazeera while joining thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in Washington D.C. on July 24 and said he is “disgusted” by support in Congress for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Matthews added that he is “ashamed” that U.S. tax dollars are being used to aid Israel in its “brutalizing of an entire people” in Gaza. The protest occurred outside of the U.S. Capitol, where Netanyahu was welcomed and gave a speech to Congress on the same day.

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“I just think it’s terrible when the majority of the world is looking at this man and what he’s doing in Gaza and then also what he’s overseeing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem [and] we’re welcoming [him] into the so-called sacred halls of our government,” Matthews told the news outlet.

“This has been an ongoing struggle for people that just want to have dignity and be able to live independent lives and dream of a better future,” he continued. “And this man is the pinnacle of the obstacle toward that freedom and that we have [him] visiting the country is obscene. It’s a disgusting show of support for someone that doesn’t deserve our support.”

Matthews concluded, “I’m ashamed that my tax dollars are going to the brutalizing of an entire people. It’s shameful. And I’m ashamed that our government is welcoming him here.”

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As reported by the Associated Press , Netanyahu used his speech to Congress to pledge “total victory” against Hamas and said Americans who opposite the war in Gaza are “Iran’s useful idiots,” adding: “America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose.”

Watch Matthews’ full interview with Al Jazeera in the video before.

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