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 boycotts by many top Democratic lawmakers and drew thousands to the Capitol to denounce the war and the humanitarian crisis it has created.
Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until “total victory,” dashing some hopes that the Israeli leader's visit to the United States could bring a breakthrough in negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
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 Iran-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 expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
But the Israeli leader soon swung to a darker tone as he mocked those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the United States, and gestured to demonstrations taking place in the streets outside the Capitol. He called protesters “useful idiots” for Israel's opponents.
He drew applause from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who refused to stand and cheer.
Freed former hostages of Hamas and families of the hostages listened in the chamber. Lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud the Israeli leader at softer moments in the speech. Security escorted out protesters in the gallery who stood up to display T-shirts with slogans demanding the leaders strike a deal to end the conflict and free the hostages.
Netanyahu accused the many war protesters in the United States of standing with the militants he said killed babies in the October 7 Hamas attack. “These protesters standing with them, they should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
Netanyahu – who is often accused of wading into US politics to benefit conservative and Republican causes – began his remarks by praising President Joe Biden. But he turned to praising former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump “for everything he's done for Israel.”
With criticism of him rising even in Israel, Netanyahu wanted to portray himself as a statesman respected by Israel's most important allies. That task is complicated by Americans' increasingly divided views on Israel and the war, which has become a key issue in the US presidential election.
High 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 staged his speech in the House chamber. Netanyahu received a bipartisan standing ovation before speaking.
The performance 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 president of the Senate, 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.
Rope. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan who has family in the West Bank, sat in the chamber with a keffiyeh, which she often wears, draped over her shoulders. Tlaib was censured last year for his harsh criticism of Israel's conduct in the war.
Republicans said the absence of Harris, the new Democratic front-runner for the presidency, was a sign of disloyalty to an ally. Former President Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, was also a no-show for Netanyahu's speech, citing the need for a 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 swelling crowds protested 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 triggered the war.
Support for Israel has long had political weight in US politics. But the usual warm welcome for Netanyahu's visit has this time been tempered by political unrest, including the assassination attempt on Trump and Biden's decision not to seek another term.
Many Democrats who support Israel but have been critical of Netanyahu saw the address as a Republican attempt to appear 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 has “lost his way” and is 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 expressed anger at Netanyahu. “Because by coming here he risks making himself the issue and turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages into a political issue,” Maya Roman, who had several family members taken hostage, 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 is overshadowed by an arrest warrant sought by the International Criminal Court against him for alleged war crimes against Palestinians. The US does not recognize the ICC.
The Biden administration says it wants Netanyahu to focus his visit on helping it finalize a deal on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. A growing number of Israelis accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to avoid a likely fall from power when the conflict ends.
Netanyahu has said his goals for the US visit are to press for the release of hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, to build support for Israel's continued fight against the group and to argue for continuing to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Iranian allies. groups in the region.
Some Democrats are wary of Netanyahu because he used a joint address to Congress in 2015 to denounce then-President Barack Obama's ongoing nuclear deal with Iran.
Netanyahu used an appearance early Wednesday to focus on Iran, its nuclear program and its 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.
