The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday for the fourth time in his career. The speech, filled with a forceful defense of Israeli military campaigns in Gaza and punctuated by numerous standing ovations from Republicans, underscored U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Protests against the war greeted Netanyahu around Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., upon his arrival. Allegedly escalating, these protests resulted in the deployment of pepper spray by police outside the U.S. Capitol. Despite the demonstrators denouncing him as a “war criminal” and calling for a ceasefire, Netanyahu referred to them as “useful idiots,” inadvertently aiding perceived anti-Semites like Iran. He also criticized campus protesters and prosecutors at the International Court of Justice, stating, “Incredibly, many anti-Israel protesters choose to stand with evil. They stand with Hamas. They stand with rapists and murderers.”
In his impassioned speech, Netanyahu called for a decisive victory in what he termed a nine-month-old war and accused Iran of being the primary instigator of the conflict. He accused Iran of plotting to impose radical Islam globally, framing the conflict as a clash between civilization and barbarism. “It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life,” he emphasized. The speech lauded America as the defender of Western civilization and castigated Iran as “the peddler of chaos and terrorism.”
This address followed Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, calling for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his allies, accusing them of “war crimes and crimes against humanity” in Gaza. Netanyahu, in response, criticized the ICC, accusing it of trying to handicap Israel’s self-defense efforts, and warned that if Israel were found guilty, America and other “democracies” could be next. The speech was laden with defensive rhetoric and offensive remarks aimed at perceived adversaries. It was met with applause and standing ovations but also faced disruptions from protestors.
For instance, Representative Rashida Tlaib held up a sign reading “guilty of genocide” on one side and “war criminal” on the other. Another wave of criticism came from relatives of hostages, who wore bright yellow T-shirts under their attire with “seal the deal now” printed on them. They intentionally remained standing after the rest of the audience sat down, resulting in the immediate detention of at least three individuals. The police’s actions during this incident are viewed as an attempt to suppress dissenting voices.
At the podium, Netanyahu expressed effusive praise for the American people and politicians from both parties, asserting that Israel’s victory is intertwined with America’s. “Through thick and thin, in good times and bad, Israel will always be your loyal friend and steadfast partner. On behalf of the people of Israel, I say thank you, America,” Netanyahu declared. While the address was warmly received by lawmakers, some dissenting voices could be heard beneath the cheers. The Prime Minister faced an increasingly divided Congress, with Democrats split over support for the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Some, like New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, refused to attend Wednesday’s speech, while others staged a walkout. Overall, the Palestinian-supporting contingent’s representation fell short of expectations. Prominent figures, including Elon Musk, were also observed at the controversial address.
It’s worth noting that the escalating violence in Palestine by the IDF and global protests are significantly shaping the international narrative against Israel. The West’s steadfast and unconditional support for Israel has severely damaged its reputation and moral standing.
Despite the International Court of Justice recognizing the dire situation in Palestine as genocide and issuing orders to prevent it, the U.S. Department of State determined that Israel has not violated international law in its conduct of the conflict or provision of humanitarian aid.
