Boycotted but unbowed: Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Congress

Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a political boycott, public protests, and the absence of Vice President Kamala Harris as he addressed a joint sitting of the US Congress amid ongoing outrage over the war in Gaza.

In Washington to “anchor the bipartisan support that is so important for Israel”, Netanyahu was forced to confront an allied country bitterly divided over his leadership and his handling of the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington. Credit: AP

But the prime minister remained defiant, portraying the war as a “clash between barbarism and civilisation”, labelling anti-Israel protesters as “Iran’s useful idiots” and calling on the US to fast-track military weapons so his defence force could “finish the job faster”.

“For the forces of civilisation to triumph, America and Israel must stand together,” he said as he issued a full-throated defence of a war that has so far killed tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

“The soldiers of Israel should not be condemned for how they’re conducting the war in Gaza – they should be commended for it!”

Netanyahu was invited to address the congress by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. But thousands of protesters marched towards the US Capitol in anger, with some pepper-sprayed by police in riot gear for breaching police lines, and others later burning the American flag at nearby Union Station.

Smoke rises following Israeli bombardments in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on Monday.Credit: AP

Dozens of Democrats also refused to attend, including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, progressive senator Bernie Sanders, and Senate judiciary chairman Dick Durban.

Michigan-based Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the sole Arab-American politician in Congress, was in the chamber but held up a sign that said “war criminal” as Netanyahu spoke.

“It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress,” she said in a statement. “He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.”

Harris also skipped the event to keep a longstanding commitment to speak at an event in Indiana hosted by one of the country’s largest historically black sororities, even though, as vice president, she is meant to preside over joint sittings of Congress alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson.

And the night before Netanyahu’s speech, activists also caused chaos at the Watergate Hotel where he was staying, including leaving maggots and mealworms on a banquet table in a conference room used by the Israeli delegation and setting off fire alarms throughout the venue.

Netanyahu’s visit comes at a time of heightened tension in the US, which has continued to stand by Israel after the war that began last October with Hamas’ attack killing 1200 Israelis. Israeli’s prosecution of the war, reliant on US weaponry, has since killed 39,000 Palestinians, civilians and militants alike.

Before withdrawing from the presidential race, Biden – a self-described “proud Zionist” – faced a growing backlash over his support for Israel, and for continuing to supply weapons to aid its efforts against Hamas.

But with Harris now the de-facto presumptive Democratic nominee, her position will come under growing scrutiny from progressive Democrats in her ranks, as well as voters in critical swing states such as Michigan, which has large numbers of Arab-Americans and young people.

Demonstrators outside Union Station in Washington, DC, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday.Credit: Bloomberg

The vice president has been aligned with Biden in terms of supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas and demanding that the terrorist group accept an Israeli proposal to stop the fighting in exchange for the release of hostages held in Gaza.

However, she is viewed as someone willing to be more pragmatic and publicly critical of the way the war is being conducted. Democrats therefore hope she can win back voters who say they could never support Biden because of his refusal to push back hard enough against his Israeli counterpart.

Harris and Biden will meet Netanyahu on Thursday (US time), while Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump plans to host him at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday.

The last time the pair met was at the White House in September 2020 at the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords, which Trump brokered.

A protester demonstrates near The Watergate Hotel.Credit: AP

In his speech – which lasted almost an hour and did not mention ceasefire negotiations – Netanyahu praised Biden and Trump for their support, but called on the US to fast-track weapons to Israel, telling the audience: “Give us the tools faster and we’ll finish the job faster.”

He also praised the 14-nation coalition that shot down Iranian missiles headed to Israel in May, and suggested turning that group into a broader alliance.

He also described his vision for a post-war Gaza, saying: “My vision for that day is of a demilitarised and de-radicalised Gaza.”

Democrat Congress member Rashida Tlaib held a sign in the chamber that says "war criminal" as Netanyahu spoke.Credit: AP

“Israel does not seek to resettle Gaza, but for the foreseeable future, we must retain overriding security control there to prevent the resurgence of terror, to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”

As for the protests outside the Capitol, he said: “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.”

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