WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's war in 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 the humanitarian crisis it has sparked.
Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until “total victory,” dashing hopes by some that the Israeli leader's visit to the United States could bring a breakthrough in ceasefire talks and the release of hostages.
To applause from US lawmakers and stony silence from others, Netanyahu has sought to bolster American support for his country's fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups.
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together, something really 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, mocking those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the US and gesturing at demonstrations taking place in the streets outside the Capitol. He called the protesters “useful idiots” for Israel's adversaries.
He drew applause from many members of Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who refused to stand and cheer.
The release of the former Hamas hostages and the families of the hostages listened in the chamber. Lawmakers of both parties rose to applaud the Israeli leader during lighter moments of the speech. Security escorted out the protesters in the gallery, who stood up and displayed T-shirts with slogans demanding that the leaders make a deal to end the conflict and free the hostages.
Netanyahu accused scores of war protesters in the United States of siding with the militants who he said killed children in the October 7 Hamas attack. “These protesters standing with them should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
Netanyahu — who is often accused of veering into American politics in favor of conservative and Republican causes — began his remarks by praising President Joe Biden. But he turned to lavish praise for former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump “for everything he's done for Israel.”
With criticism mounting against him even in Israel, Netanyahu has sought to portray himself as a statesman respected by Israel's most important ally. This task is complicated by the increasingly divided opinion of Americans on Israel and the war, which has emerged as a key issue in the US presidential election.
Tall steel barriers surrounded the Capitol on Wednesday and police deployed pepper spray as thousands of protesters gathered 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 for him to speak on the floor of the chamber. Netanyahu received a standing ovation before his performance.
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 political independent 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-planned 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 who has family in the West Bank, sat in the chamber with the keffiyeh she often wears draped over her shoulders. Tlaib was convicted last year for her sharp 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 President Donald Trump's running mate, JD 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 in the war. Others condemned 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 US politics. But the usual warm receptions for Netanyahu's visits have been tempered this time by political turmoil, including an assassination attempt on Trump and Biden's decision not to seek another term.
Many Democrats, who support Israel but criticize Netanyahu, saw the speech as an effort by Republicans to claim to be the most loyal party.
Many Democrats attended the speech despite their criticism of Netanyahu, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called for new Israeli elections in a speech on the floor 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 with relatives of those taken hostage by Hamas on Wednesday and expressed anger at Netanyahu. “Because by coming here, he risks becoming the problem himself and turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages into a political one,” Maya Roman, who had several family members captured, told lawmakers.
The United States is Israel's most important ally, arms supplier 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 sought 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 Netanyahu to focus his visit on helping it finalize a cease-fire agreement and the release of hostages. A growing number of Israelis accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to avoid a likely fall to power whenever the conflict ends.
Netanyahu said his goal of the US visit was to seek the release of hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, build support for Israel's continued battle against the group and argue for continued confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran's other allies. groups in the region.
Some Democrats are wary of Netanyahu because he used a joint speech to Congress in 2015 to condemn then-President Barack Obama's upcoming nuclear deal with Iran.
Netanyahu used Wednesday's speech to take aim at Iran, its nuclear program and its network of armed allies. Iran is “behind the entire axis of terror” that threatens the US and Israel, he said in a speech at a memorial for former senator Joe Lieberman.
