WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's war on Gaza and condemned American protesters in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday that sparked a boycott by several top Democratic lawmakers and drew thousands of people. to the Capitol to condemn the war and the humanitarian crisis it has created.
Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until “total victory,” disappointing some that the Israeli leader's visit to the United States could bring progress in ceasefire and release negotiations. life.
Speaking to applause from US lawmakers, and stunned silence from others, Netanyahu sought to reaffirm US support for his country's fight against Hamas and other militant groups. Iran-backed war.
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together, something very simple happens: We win, they lose,” said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin in solidarity with Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
But the Israeli leader soon turned to a darker tone as he mocked anti-war protesters on college campuses and elsewhere in the US, reacting to the protests that took place in the streets outside the Capitol. He called the protesters “useful idiots” for Israel's enemies.
He got a standing ovation from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who refused to stand and cheer.
Former hostages and families of former hostages listened in the House chamber. Lawmakers in both parties rose to applaud the Israeli leader at softer moments in the speech. Security forces escorted protesters into the gallery who stood and displayed T-shirts with slogans demanding that the leaders seal an agreement to end the conflict and free the hostages.
Netanyahu accused many anti-war protesters in the United States of standing with militants who he said killed babies in the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Netanyahu – who is often accused of meddling in US politics in support of conservative and Republican causes – began his remarks by praising President Joe Biden. But he turned to glowing praise of former president and current presidential contender Donald Trump “for everything he's done for Israel.”
With criticism of him also growing in Israel, Netanyahu aimed to present himself as a statesman respected by Israel's biggest allies. That task is complicated by Americans' increasingly divided views on Israel and the war, which has emerged as a major issue in the US presidential election.
High steel barricades surrounded the Capitol Wednesday, and police fired pepper spray as thousands of protesters demonstrated near the Capitol, denouncing Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and calling for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu received a warm welcome from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers who arranged his speech on the House floor. Netanyahu received a standing ovation before speaking.
The appearance made Netanyahu the first foreign leader to address a joint session of Congress four times, surpassing Winston Churchill.
More than 50 Democrats and independent Bernie Sanders boycotted Netanyahu's speech. His most notable absence was behind the scenes: Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Speaker of the Senate, said a long-planned trip prevented her from attending.
The next Democrat, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, declined to attend, and was replaced by Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat who has family in the West Bank, sat in the House chamber with a keffiyeh, which she often wore, draped over her shoulders. Tlaib was convicted last year for his harsh criticism of Israel's handling of the war.
Republicans said the absence of Harris, the new Democratic presidential nominee, was a sign of loyalty to their allies. An ally of former President Donald Trump, JD Vance, did not comment on Netanyahu's speech, saying the campaign was necessary.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Harris on Thursday, and with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.
Many of the burgeoning crowds protested the killing of more than 39,000 Palestinians in the war. Others blamed Netanyahu's failure to free Israeli and American hostages taken by Hamas and other militants during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.
Support for Israel has long carried political weight in American politics. But the usual warm welcome to Netanyahu's visit has been dampened this time by political turmoil, including Trump's assassination attempt and Biden's decision not to seek a term. different.
Many Democrats who support Israel but are critical of Netanyahu saw the address as an attempt by Republicans to position themselves as the most loyal party.
Many Democrats attended the speech despite their criticism of Netanyahu, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called for new elections in Israel in a speech in March. Schumer, from New York, then said Netanyahu had “lost his way” and was an obstacle to regional peace amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
About 60 members met with relatives of Hamas hostages on Wednesday, and they expressed anger at Netanyahu. “Because by coming here, he risks making himself a problem, turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages into a political one,” said Maya Roman, who has several families held hostage, among those legislator.
The United States is Israel's biggest ally, arms supplier and source of military aid. Netanyahu's visit was his first abroad since the start of the war, and under the shadow of an arrest warrant sought by the International Criminal Court for Israel's crimes against the Palestinians. The United States does not recognize the ICC.
The Biden administration said it wanted to see Netanyahu focus his visit on helping him finalize a cease-fire agreement and the release of hostages. A growing number of Israelis accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to avoid the possibility of a fall from power whenever the war ends.
Netanyahu said his goals for the US visit were to press for the release of hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, build support for Israel's continued war against the group, and to argue for continued confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Iranian allies. group in the area.
Some Democrats have been wary of Netanyahu since he used a joint speech to Congress in 2015 to denounce then-President Barack Obama's pending nuclear deal with Iran.
Netanyahu used an appearance on Wednesday morning to focus on Iran, its nuclear program and its network of armed allies. Iran is “behind the entire axis of terrorism” that threatens the United States and Israel, he said, speaking at a memorial for former Sen. Joe Lieberman.
