He called for unity against Iran, but did not talk about a ceasefire with Hamas. Dozens of Democratic congressmen boycotted his speech and thousands protested his visit to Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the US Congress on Wednesday and called for a global alliance against Iran, sharply criticizing pro-Palestinian activists protesting the Gaza war in Washington.
“When we fight Iran, we are fighting the most radical and bloodthirsty enemy of the United States,” Netanyahu said during his speech, which lasted more than an hour. “Our fight is your fight and our victory will be your victory.”
“All countries that are friendly to Israel and all countries that have made peace with Israel should be invited to join this alliance.”
Netanyahu rejected criticism of Israel, presented the war in Gaza as a fight for his country’s survival and demanded that the United States increase military aid.
He quoted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s speech to the American people during World War II when he said, “Give us a chance and we’ll get the job done.”
He outlined his views on the post-war situation in the Gaza Strip and called for a “demilitarized and deradicalized” enclave under Israeli military control.
“Gaza must have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who are not trying to destroy Israel. That’s not a big ask,” he said.
“America and Israel must come together. When we’re together, a simple thing happens: we win, they lose,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. He said Israel will continue to fight until Hamas destroys its military capabilities and power in Gaza and until all hostages are returned. Only this, in his opinion, can be called a “complete victory”.
Those who had been released from Hamas captivity, as well as family members of those still in captivity, sat in the chamber of the House of Representatives. According to the AP, at least five of them were wearing T-shirts with slogans calling for an end to the war and the return of prisoners. Rashida Tlaib, the only member of Congress who is of Palestinian descent, held up signs reading “War Criminal” and “Guilt of Genocide” during Netanyahu’s speech.
Netanyahu’s speech was accompanied by a demonstration in Washington. According to The Guardian, thousands of people gathered around Capitol Hill against the Israeli prime minister. Police had earlier closed a section of downtown Washington to traffic, and officers from the New York Police Department with experience in combating public demonstrations were called in.
Demonstrators carried banners calling the Israeli prime minister a “war criminal”. Police later said they arrested five people who tried to disrupt Netanyahu’s speech at the Capitol building. In addition, the participants of the event brought a huge turban of the Israeli prime minister, with a horn growing from his head and blood flowing from his mouth.
Israel’s prime minister has accused Tehran of funding and encouraging protests in the United States, while calling the Gaza peace activists who organized the protest on Capitol Hill “useful idiots of Iran.”
Netanyahu Addresses US Congress He called for unity against Iran, but said almost nothing about a ceasefire with Hamas. Dozens of Democratic congressmen boycotted his speech and thousands protested his visit to Washington. 👉 https://kun.uz/37760304
“Inappropriate visit”
The rapturous applause during the Israeli prime minister’s speech did not disguise the fact that at least 39 congressmen (almost all Democrats) were not in the room.
One of them was former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who said that “Mr. Netanyahu’s visit was inappropriate.”
“Many of us Israelis who suffered from the terrorist attack and kidnapping by Hamas on October 7 listened,” he wrote on the X social network page after Netanyahu’s speech. “These families are calling for a ceasefire to be signed to allow the hostages to return home, and we hope the Prime Minister will take the time to achieve that goal.”
The BBC’s Paul Adams in Jerusalem notes that Netanyahu’s speech barely mentioned talks about releasing Gaza hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.
At the same time, US President Joe Biden remains optimistic about reaching a peace agreement in Gaza, White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said at a briefing.
According to Reuters, citing a senior US official, negotiations on this agreement are in the final stages; Biden and Netanyahu will “discuss remaining issues” on Thursday.
According to him, the remaining obstacles can be resolved and further negotiations towards an agreement between Israel and Hamas will take place during the next week.
On Thursday, Netanyahu will meet with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and on Friday he will travel to Florida to meet with Donald Trump.
Nomia Iqbal, BBC North America Correspondent
For more than an hour, Netanyahu tried to deflect criticism of Israel and present the war in Gaza as his country’s fight for survival.
His speech was an attempt to preserve the hand of the United States.
President Biden was not in the room. Their relationship was strained, but Netanyahu thanked him for his help.
Biden’s Democratic Party is divided – dozens of congressmen, outraged by the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza, boycotted the speech.
They also accuse Netanyahu of using the US as leverage to support Israel’s low ratings.
Netanyahu has said nothing about the process of resolving the two countries’ problems, while both Biden and the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, want to do so.
As Donald Trump may return to the White House, Netanyahu also thanked Trump for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
