Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a clear, unambiguous message for the thousands of protestors who had converged on Capitol Hill ahead of his record fourth address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, July 24.
“For all we know, Iran is funding the anti-Israel protests outside this building,” he told the senators and congressmen gathered for his address.
“Well, 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.
“Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming ‘gays for Gaza’. They might as well hold up signs saying ‘chickens for KFC’,” he said.
.@netanyahu: “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.” pic.twitter.com/poPrkAT3lc
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) July 24, 2024
It was perhaps also meant as a rebuke for the 80 Democrat lawmakers, including Presidential nominee hopeful Kamala Harris and former speaker Nancy Pelosi, who skipped his address.
Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, wore a Palestinian keffiyeh, and held up a placard saying “war Criminal” as he spoke, but calmed down after a conversation with her colleagues.
The Israeli leader also laid out his vision for a ‘deradicalised’ post war Gaza, over which Israel would “retain overriding security control”, and proposed a security pact between Israel and America’s Arab allies called the “Abraham Alliance” to “counter the growing Iranian threat.”
He said Israel was intensely engaged in efforts to free the remaining hostages held by the Hamas, the militant group that rules the Palestinian enclave, and insisted Israel was protecting civilians there.
Greeted by a standing ovation and cheers from Republicans, and a more subdued reception from Democrats, Netanyahu pledged that hostages would be released soon.
In a speech lasting about an hour and interrupted repeatedly by applause, Netanyahu sought to shore up U.S. support for Israel, especially weapons supplies.
“Fast-tracking U.S. military aid could dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East,” he said. “Give us the tools, and we’ll finish the job today.
Thanking both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, he said, “Friends, if you remember one thing from this speech, remember this: our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory.”
Netanyahu has earlier said Israel would not allow Hamas to return to power, nor would it accept the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, having a role.
While Netanyahu made no mention of Palestinian statehood, he did not rule out a West Bank-led Palestinian Authority, whose role in a future two-state solution is favoured by the Biden administration but opposed by Netanyahu’s coalition partners.
Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Netanyahu’s speech showed he does not want to conclude a ceasefire deal.
Netanyahu’s standing ovation in Congress will haunt the US for generations.
The world has seen the US political elite applaud a mass murderer – a genocidal butcher – and they are not going to forget it, or forgive it. https://t.co/eTysd7C4F0
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 24, 2024
“Netanyahu’s speech was full of lies and it will not succeed in covering up for the failure and defeat in the face of the resistance to cover up for the crimes of the war of genocide his army is committing against the people of Gaza,” Abu Zuhri said.
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, who sat on the dais in place of Harris, said he was pleased to hear Netanyahu make positive comments about Biden, although he was not pleased with his comments about the American protesters.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said he thought Netanyahu’s speech set back the two countries’ relationship. “The downplaying of the humanitarian crisis was astonishing to hear,” he said on X.com.
“Netanyahu would have been better off spending this time finalizing a deal to bring the hostages home and end the war, instead of coming here to comment on U.S. politics,” he said.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
