WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's war on Gaza and condemned US protesters in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday that sparked a boycott by many leading Democratic lawmakers and drew thousands to the Capitol to denounce the war and humanitarian crisis. , which she created.
Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until “total victory,” dashing the hopes of some that the Israeli leader's visit to the U.S. could bring some breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Speaking to applause from US lawmakers and stony silence from others, Netanyahu sought to bolster US support for his country's fight against Hamas and other Iranian-backed armed groups.
“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 being held by Hamas.
But the Israeli leader soon took a more somber tone as he mocked those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the US, pointing to demonstrations taking place in the streets near the Capitol. He called the protesters “useful idiots” for Israel's opponents.
He drew cheers from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats, who refused to stand up and cheer.
The released former hostages of Hamas and the families of the hostages listened in the hall of the House of Representatives. Lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud the Israeli leader during softer moments in the speech. Security escorted the protesters into the gallery, who rose to display T-shirts with slogans demanding the leaders strike a deal to end the conflict and free the hostages.
Netanyahu accused many protesters during the war in the United States of standing up to militants who he said killed babies during the October 7 Hamas attack. “These protesters standing with them should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
Netanyahu, who is often accused of meddling in American politics in favor of conservative and republican ideas, began his remarks by praising President Joe Biden. But he turned to lavish praise for former president and current presidential contender Donald Trump “for everything he's done for Israel.”
With growing criticism against him in Israel, Netanyahu has sought to present himself as a statesman respected by Israel's most important ally. This task is complicated by the fact that Americans' views on Israel and the war, which is becoming a key issue in the US presidential election, are increasingly divided.
Tall steel barriers surrounded the Capitol on Wednesday and police fired pepper spray as thousands of protesters gathered outside 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 organized his speech on the House floor. Netanyahu received a bipartisan 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 politician Bernie Sanders boycotted Netanyahu's speech. The most notable absence was right behind him: Vice President Kamala Harris, who serves as Senate president, said a long-scheduled trip prevented her from attending.
The next Democrat in line, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, declined to attend, so Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, served as “senator pro tempore” in her place.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan whose family is on the West Bank, sat on the floor of the House with the kuffia she often wears draped over her shoulders. Last year, Tlaib was convicted of harsh criticism of Israel's conduct in the war.
Republicans said the absence of Harris, the new Democratic presidential nominee, was a sign of disloyalty to an ally. Former aide to President Donald Trump, Jay Dee Vance, also did not attend Netanyahu's speech, citing the need to campaign.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Harris on Thursday and with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.
Many in the crowd of demonstrators were protesting the killing of more than 39,000 Palestinians during the war. Others condemned Netanyahu's failure to release Israeli and American hostages taken by Hamas and other militants in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.
Support for Israel has long carried political weight in US politics. But the usual warm reception for Netanyahu's visits this time around has been dampened by political upheavals, including Trump's assassination attempt and Biden's decision not to run for another term.
Many Democrats, who support Israel but are critical of Netanyahu, see the address as an attempt by Republicans to assert 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, said at the time that Netanyahu had “lost his way” and was an obstacle to peace in the region amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
About 60 lawmakers met Wednesday with relatives of those taken hostage by Hamas, and they expressed their anger at Netanyahu. “Because by coming here, he risks making himself a problem, turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages into a political one,” Maya Raman, whose family members were taken hostage, told lawmakers.
The United States is Israel's most important ally, supplier of weapons, and source of military aid. Netanyahu's visit is his first abroad since the start of the war and comes under the shadow of arrest warrants issued against him by the International Criminal Court for alleged Israeli war crimes against the Palestinians. The United States does not recognize the ICC.
The Biden administration says it wants to see Netanyahu focus his visit on helping finalize a cease-fire agreement and release hostages. A growing number of Israelis accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to avoid a likely fall to power when the conflict ends.
Netanyahu said his visit to the U.S. was to press for the release of hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, to garner support for Israel's continued fight against the group, and to advocate for continued opposition to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the group's other Iranian allies in the region.
Some Democrats are wary of Netanyahu since he used a joint speech to Congress in 2015 to denounce then-President Barack Obama's unfinished nuclear deal with Iran.
Netanyahu used the appearance early Wednesday to focus attention on Iran, its nuclear program and a network of armed allies. Iran is “behind the entire axis of terror” that threatens the United States and Israel, he said, speaking at a memorial for former senator Joe Lieberman.
