Michael Arria
Monoweiss / July 24, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress to bolster support for Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. About half of the Democrats in Congress skipped the speech where he vowed to continue the attack until “total victory” is met.
On Wednesday Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress in an effort to bolster support for his country’s brutal 10-month assault on Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to the United States comes amid political tumult, as GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt less than two weeks ago and President Joe Biden recently announced he would drop out of the 2024 race.
It was the fourth time Netanyahu had addressed Congress, the most for any world leader in U.S. history. Netanyahu was invited to address Congress by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
In a fiery, defiant speech Netanyahu defended Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza, warned of an alleged nuclear threat from Iran, and called on lawmakers to embrace the special relationship between the United States and Israel.
“We meet today at a crossroads of history,” he told attendees. “Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life for the forces of civilization to triumph. America and Israel must stand together.”
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: we win, they lose,” he added.
The Prime Minister also presented loose post-war plans, claiming that “a new Gaza could emerge,” after Israel defeats Hamas. He insisted that his government has no plans to “resettle” Gaza, but vowed to keep attacking Gaza until a “total victory” was achieved.
The tens of thousands around the world who have protested against Israel’s genocidal war were smeared as “Iran’s useful idiots” in the speech. The line was met by one of many standing ovations.
Protests
Thousands took to the streets of D.C. to protest the speech.
The actions were kicked off Tuesday night when more than 300 people were arrested during a protest at the Cannon House Office Building, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
“It is utterly shameful that U.S. lawmakers would invite war criminal Netanyahu to address Congress. We are hundreds of American Jews calling on our elected leaders to stop funding and fueling this genocide,” said JVP Communications Director Sonya Meyerson-Knox.
Netanyahu’s motorcade was forced to reroute after protesters blocked streets around the Capitol by locking arms while holding a banner reading, “STOP ARMING ISRAEL.”
Calls for Netanyahu to be arrested were a consistent feature of the protests.
The International Criminal Court is currently seeking warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader Yihya Sinwar, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif over possible crimes against humanity.
Activists and politicians have also used the moment to highlight the need for a U.S. arms embargo Palestine solidarity activists have been calling for an end to U.S. weapons shipments for years, and this week organizers with the Uncommitted Movement launched a 4-week push based around that specific demand.
The Not Another Bomb campaign hopes to pressure delegates to back the effort at the Democratic National Convention next month. They are circulating a petition that calls on Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to embrace the the embargo.
“Adopting an arms embargo against Israel’s assault on Gaza is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move to defeat Trump and MAGA extremism. It is difficult for the Democratic candidate to champion democracy while arming Netanyahu’s authoritarian regime,” it reads.
“Supporting Israel’s war on Gaza undermines our fight against MAGA extremism and contradicts our core values of human rights and justice. By taking a strong stand against Netanyahu’s authoritarian policies, the Biden-Harris administration can unify the Democratic Party and regain the trust of key voter bases, including young people, Arabs, and Muslims.”
Harris skipped Netanyahu’s congressional address over a previous engagement in Indianapolis (a move that Israeli officials called “disappointing”), but is scheduled to attend meet with him on Thursday, as is President Biden.
Family members of Israeli prisoners were arrested outside the speech while wearing t-shirts that read, “SEAL THE DEAL NOW,” a call for the Netanyahu government to negotiate a hostage deal with Hamas.
Lawmakers boycott speech
About half of the Democrats in Congress skipped Netanyahu’s speech, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC).
Some, like Harris, cited scheduling conflicts while others said they were boycotting the address over Gaza.
“No, Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the U.S.
Congress,” tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). “On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned.”
“By bestowing Prime Minister Netanyahu with a joint address, Congress is not only continuing to green-light genocide; it is actively celebrating the man at the forefront of that genocide,” said Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO). “Instead of platforming a war criminal, Congress should be imposing an arms embargo and using its leverage to force Netanyahu to end the bombing and bloodshed that has already killed over 39,000 Palestinians and failed to ensure the safe release of the vast majority of hostages, all while decimating schools, hospitals, homes, and humanitarian convoys.”
“Years from now this body will be ashamed of its actions,” declared Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) in a speech on the House floor.
“Today Congress will undertake political theater on behalf of the State Department,” wrote Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). “The purpose of having Netanyahu address Congress is to bolster his political standing in Israel and to quell int’l opposition to his war. I don’t feel like being a prop so I won’t be attending.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, attended the speech but held up a sign while many of her colleagues applauded Netanyahu’s comments. One of side of Tlaib sign read, “GUILTY OF GENOCIDE” and the other said, “WAR CRIMINAL.”
“Make no mistake: this event is a celebration of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. It is a sad day for our democracy when my colleagues will smile for a photo op with a man who is actively committing genocide,” said Tlaib in a statement before the speech. “It is hypocritical to claim to be concerned about the massive death toll of innocent civilians, and then turn around and welcome the person responsible for these war crimes to our Capitol. Their silence is betrayal, and history will remember them accordingly. Our government must stop supporting and funding this genocide now.”
Over 100 Congressional interns boycotted the speech in a coordinated sick-out.
“In an act of protest, many of us have pledged to call in sick today, the day of Netanyahu’s address,” reads a statement from boycott participants. “We stand in full solidarity with the victims of Netanyahu’s actions. We call on all members of Congress to boycott the address and take a unified stand against what we believe is a ‘universal evil.’ We urge our representatives to respond to the collective will of the American people and reject any semblance of endorsement of Netanyahu’s actions.”
“The most important thing you should know: in 2015, about 50 Democrats in Congress boycotted Netanyahu’s speech to Congress,” Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid pointed out on Twitter. “Today, it was 136 Democrats. Netanyahu and AIPAC are losing the Democratic Party.”
The British medical journal The Lancet estimates that the death toll of Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza will reach at least an estimated 186,000 Palestinians.
Michael Arria is the U.S. correspondent for Mondoweiss
