LAST UPDATE | 24 Jul
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Gaza protesters and warned of the danger posed by Iran in a speech in front of the United States Congress early today.
He labelled the protesters “Iran’s useful idiots”, and claimed they were receiving funding from Tehran.
“I have a message for these protesters: When the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots,” he said.
Thousands of protesters attempted to assemble outside Capitol Hill, the seat of the Congress in Washington DC, to demonstrate against Netanyahu’s speech. They were ultimately prevented from doing so by police who fired pepper spray.
Activists were kept at least a block away by police before they eventually dispersed.
Inside the House of Representatives – one half of the main Capitol building – six protesters were arrested before Netanyahu began.
Inside the chamber, the only Palestinian American lawmaker – Democrat Rashida Tlaib – held signs saying “guilty of genocide” and “war criminal” during Netanyahu’s address.
The Israeli Prime Minister also warned against what he called Iran’s “axis of terror”.
“Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization,” he said.
Yesterday, Netanyahu met with representatives of the families of Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza by Hamas, and today, said that he was “confident that efforts [to free the hostages] can succeed”.
A key point that Netanyahu emphasised was the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel.
While US President Joe Biden has been very supportive of Israel publicly, he has expressed concern over the high civilian death toll from their ongoing operations in Gaza. Biden has stalled the delivery of 2,000 ton bombs to Israel as a result.
Netanyahu called for the aid to be fast-tracked.
“I deeply appreciate America’s support, including in this current war. But this is an exceptional moment. Fast-tracking US military aid could dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East,” he said.
But his call for support sparked a backlash from Democrats angry that there was little of substance in his speech about securing peace.
Influential former House speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary” invited to speak before Congress.
Netanyahu’s trip to the United States this week has been somewhat muted so far.
Having been invited to speak at a joint session of the US Congress back in May, his visit has been largely overshadowed by an unprecedented two weeks of political upheaval in the country.
In that time, Republican candidate Donald Trump was almost assassinated, President Joe Biden bowed to pressure from his party to drop out of the election race and now, Vice President Kamala Harris is all-but-certain to be announced as the Democratic nominee.
Amidst all of that, Netanyahu has been keeping a low profile since he arrived in Washington on Monday.
His meeting with Biden was due to happen on Tuesday, but due to the US president contracting Covid, this was pushed back to Thursday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara met last night in Washington with the representatives of the families of the hostages who have accompanied them, together with representatives of the families of hostages who are in the US.https://t.co/5N5lv5ApvG pic.twitter.com/DXoRsxIkaG
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 23, 2024
Netanyahu will be seeking to rally support at a time of tensions between his country and its main military backer over the conflict in Gaza. Here’s what we know about the visit.
Back in May, congressional leaders invited Netanyahu to deliver an address at the Capitol in an attempt to show support for the longtime ally of the US, despite mounting political divisions over what is happening in Gaza.
The invitation, orchestrated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, had been in the works for some time before it was issued, according to AP.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, had previously called for new elections in Israel and said that Netanyahu had “lost his way” amid the bombardment in Gaza, but co-signed the invitation citing the US’s “ironclad” relationship with Israel.
The visit would also allow for Netanyahu to appear statesmanlike on a global stage, amid growing opposition to his leadership at home.
The trip is the first time Netanyahu has traveled abroad since the current conflict began on 7 October, and since the International Criminal Court (ICC) said it was seeking his arrest on war crimes charges.
As I departed for the United States, I thanked President Biden for the many things he did for the State of Israel during the war and his years as President, Vice President, and Senator.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 22, 2024
I look forward to my important meeting with the President.
The following are my remarks… pic.twitter.com/9nej0hp2AO
Biden will meet Netanyahu tomorrow, amid reported tensions between the pair due to the mounting toll of civilians in Gaza. Netanyahu last month said the US is withholding weapons from Israel and implied this was slowing its offensive in Rafah.
Despite the tensions, the United States has defended Israeli interests while taking a key role in mediation efforts, and the countries’ military relationship remains strong, officials say.
But Council on Foreign Relations Middle East specialist Steven Cook said that “never before has the atmosphere been so fraught.”
“There is clearly tension in the relationship, especially between the White House and the Israeli prime minister,” Cook said.
Netanyahu will also hold a meeting with Donald Trump on Friday.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the Republican candidate said: “Looking forward to seeing Bibi Netanyahu on Friday, and even more forward to achieving Peace in the Middle East!”
He included a letter from Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in which he wished him “strength and safety” following the assassination attempt on the 78-year-old.
Writing back, Trump said: “Mahmoud. So nice. Thank you – everything will be good. Best wishes, Donald Trump.”
It hasn’t exactly been a warm welcome. According to Politico, at least 18 House Democrats and nine Senate Democratsdid not attend his speech.
Among those is independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who said that he is a “war criminal” and “should not be welcomed into the US Congress”.
“On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned,” Sanders wrote in a social media post.
Dick Durban, the number-two Democrat in the Senate, also did not attend.
“I will stand by Israel, but I will not stand and cheer its current prime minister,” he said in a statement.
It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 23, 2024
40k Palestinians are dead.
Hostages aren’t home.
Netanyahu is a war criminal.
I will be boycotting his address.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also deemed Netanyahu a war criminal, saying: “It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress.
Anti-Israel group Jewish Voice for Peace organised a protest that saw hundreds of people demonstrate against Netanyahu’s speech and call on the US to stop arming Israel at a building in the US Capitol complex on Tuesday.
Capitol police said they arrested approximately 200 people. “Demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings is against the law,” they said.
Deafening protest in cannon rotunda. pic.twitter.com/DuM6Fmbg4C
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 23, 2024
Netanyahu has become a deeply unpopular figure in Israel. His popularity was already waning before the current conflict due to his controversial effort to weaken Israel’s judiciary.
His failure to prevent Hamas’s attack on 7 October and his subsequent handling of the conflict has led to evergrowing protests against his leadership and demands that he reach a deal to release the hostages taken by Hamas over nine months ago.
Analysis published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz states that his visit to Washington is “nothing but narcissistic politicking”, adding: “In the absence of American attention, the much ballyhooed trip has been exposed in its true dimensions – a narcissistic show intended mainly to fulfill Israeli political interests.”
The Times of Israel reported that families of hostages were among those to rally on Washington’s National Mall in favour of an agreement to release hostages, chanting “Bring them home now” and holding large signs calling on Netanyahu to “seal the deal now” and “give us hope”.
One woman, whose son was taken hostage, told the newspaper: “I’m begging Bibi. There’s a deal on the table and you have to take it.”
Israel has recently intensified its attacks on Gaza and Netanyahu has insisted that only piling on military pressure can free the hostages and defeat Hamas,
Hamas’s 7 October attack resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Hamas militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom are still in Gaza, including 44 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 39,090 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
With reporting from © AFP 2024
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