Israel’s “victory” will also be that of the United States, Benjamin Netanyahu told a divided US Congress on Wednesday, with the Israeli prime minister calling on the two countries to “stay united” after more than nine months of war in the Gaza Strip.
“For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must remain united,” he said from the House of Representatives chamber, to loud applause from Republican lawmakers.
“In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror is challenging the United States, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations, but a clash between barbarism and civilization,” added Mr. Netanyahu, who delivered a spirited defense of the Israeli army.
He urged the United States to provide new military aid to Israel, spoke of a demilitarized and “deradicalized” Gaza after the war and expressed “confidence” in the outcome of negotiations to free hostages held by Hamas.
“I am confident that these efforts can be successful,” the leader said, thanking President Joe Biden “for his tireless efforts” on behalf of the hostages.
Among those gathered to listen to the Israeli leader was Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old former hostage.
Israel’s “victory” will also be a victory for the United States, the Israeli prime minister assured. “We are not only protecting ourselves. We are protecting you… Our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory.”
This is the fourth time — a record for a foreign leader — that Netanyahu will address Congress, which is usually reserved for leaders on state visits. He is scheduled to address both houses in a special session starting at 2 p.m.
On Thursday, he will meet with President Joe Biden, with whom he has a complicated relationship, to discuss “the situation in Gaza,” “progress toward a ceasefire” and “an agreement on the release of the hostages,” according to the White House.
Kamala Harris, who will not attend his speech due to a scheduled trip, will meet separately with the Israeli leader on Thursday. In response to her absence, an Israeli government spokesperson said the speech was “more important than any one individual.”
Mr Netanyahu will then travel to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday at the invitation of Donald Trump, with the two men saying they get along famously.
Thousands of protesters
The visit of the Israeli Prime Minister, who arrived in Washington on Monday, is however causing a stir in the midst of political turmoil in the United States with the withdrawal of Joe Biden from the race for the White House.
Many Democratic lawmakers are up in arms against the right-wing Israeli leader, condemning his conduct of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip that has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths and a humanitarian catastrophe. Several of them boycotted the speech to Congress, including the very influential Nancy Pelosi.
On X, left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders said that “Netanyahu is not welcome.”
Thousands of protesters gathered around Congress to protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech and demand a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In the crowd, signs urging the United States to “stop American aid to Israel” and calling Netanyahu a “war criminal.”
The United States is Israel’s primary ally and main military supporter.
But the Biden administration has grown irritated in recent months by the consequences of the Israeli response to the October 7 attack on its soil by Hamas, insisting on the protection of civilians and the entry of humanitarian aid.
Washington has gone so far as to suspend the delivery of certain types of bombs – without ending its support – provoking the anger of the Israeli government.
Post-war gap
Mr. Netanyahu used the congressional podium to defend his goal of eliminating Hamas and emphasize the threat posed by Iran.
For now, the American president’s priority is rather to press Mr. Netanyahu to conclude a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, at a time when some suspect him of dragging his feet under pressure from the extreme right members of his government.
For Washington, it is also a question of preparing for the post-war period. And there, the gap between the two governments is gaping, particularly on the prospect of creating a Palestinian state.
On October 7, Hamas commandos infiltrated from Gaza into southern Israel carried out an attack that killed 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli data. Of the 251 people kidnapped at the time, 116 are still being held in Gaza, including 44 who died, according to the army.
In response, Israel launched an air and then ground campaign against the poor and overpopulated territory, which has so far killed 39,145 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza government.