In his Wednesday speech to a joint session of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the United States and proposed an “Abraham Alliance” between Israel and Arab states to combat Iran and its proxies.
“The new alliance I envision would be a natural extension of the groundbreaking Abraham Accords, those accords saw peace forged between Israel and four Arab countries and they were supported by Republicans and Democrats alike.”
Netanyahu’s address comes as Israel continues to battle Hamas terror in Gaza after the terror group invaded the Jewish state on October 7 and massacred more than 1,000 citizens.
This was the prime minister’s fourth time addressing Congress. His last address in 2015 focused on the Iranian threat, a thread he picked up again on Wednesday.
“Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism, all the turmoil, all the chaos, all the killings,” he said, quoting a top Hezbollah leader who called Israel a tool of America and said the “real war” is with the United States.
Netanyahu made the case for America and Israel standing together against Iran and terrorism, focusing on their shared values and military cooperation.
“Standing in Iran’s way is one proud, pro-American democracy. My country, the state of Israel,” he said.
”When Israel acts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons that could destroy Israel and threaten every American city, every city that you come from. We’re not only protecting ourselves, we’re protecting you.”
Netanyahu added that Israel helps prevent American boots from being on the ground in the Middle East’s many conflicts.
“We’ve jointly developed some of the most sophisticated weapons on Earth that help protect both our countries, and we also help. We also help keep American’s boots off the ground while protecting our interests in the Middle East.”
Joining Netanyahu was Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old Israeli who was held hostage in Gaza until she was freed by an elite unit after 245 days in captivity.
“On the morning of October 7, the entire world saw Noa’s look of desperation as she was violently abducted to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle,” adding that Argamani’s mother received her final wish of seeing her daughter returned before she passed away from cancer.
Applause for rescued hostage Noa Argamani during Benjamin Netanayhu’s speech before Congress. pic.twitter.com/Nzn1dP3h3U
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 24, 2024
Other guests included the grandfather of the two babies taken hostage with their parents by Hamas terrorists, and Iris Haim, the mother of an Israeli hostage Yotam Haim. Haim escaped his captors but was accidentally killed by IDF soldiers.
Netanyahu said it is Israel’s intention to liberate all hostages held in Gaza and have a “complete victory” over Hamas. Out of the 255 hostages taken, 135 have returned home.
Netanyahu also honored the heroes who helped fight Hamas on Oct. 7 where 1,200 people were killed including 39 Americans.
“Proportionately, compared to our population size, that’s like 20 9/11s in one day,” Netanyahu said. “And these monsters, they raped women, they beheaded men, they burned babies alive. They killed parents in front of their children and children in front of their parents.”
Four of Netanyahu’s guests were Israeli soldiers who fought heroically on October 7, including a tank commander who lost his right arm and vision in his left eye. Another soldier grabbed his gun during Hamas’s attack and ran seven miles from his home to join the fight, according to Netanyahu.
After the war, Netanyahu said Gaza must be demilitarized and deradicalized with a Palestinian civilian administration and Israel remaining in control over security to prevent terrorism for the “foreseeable future.”
“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,” he said. “Gaza should have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who do not seek to destroy Israel. That’s not too much to ask!”
Despite a boycott of the speech by over 50 mostly Democratic lawmakers, Netanyahu emphasized his desire to “anchor the bipartisan support that is so important for Israel” before departing on the trip. He was invited to Congress by its four top leaders: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Rep. Rashida Tlaib attended the speech wearing a keffiyeh and holding up signs reading “War Criminal” and “Guilty of Genocide.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib holds up a “war criminal” sign during Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech. pic.twitter.com/8qCMzL5ZH3
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 24, 2024
Netanyahu praised both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for their records of helping Israel.
He thanked Biden for immediately condemning Hamas’ attack, sending two aircraft carriers, and calling himself a “proud Irish American Zionist.”
“He came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour—a visit that will never be forgotten,” he said. “President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years. I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel.”
Netanyahu thanked Trump for helping facilitate the Abraham Accords, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to show recognition of the holy city as Israel’s capital.
He also condemned the attempted assassination attempt on Trump, stating that there is “no room for political violence in democracies.”
Netanyahu is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and Trump later this week.
The prime minister defended Israel’s right to exist and condemned the terrorist-sympathizing protesters who have caused chaos on America’s campuses and streets, accusing them of being “useful idiots for Iran.”
“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,” he said. “Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming ‘Gays for Gaza.’ They might as well hold up signs saying ‘Chickens for KFC.’”
He said the many protesters chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” have no idea what river or sea they are talking about.
“They not only get an F in geography, they get an F in history,” he said. “For nearly 4,000 years, the Land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. It’s always been our home, it will always be our home.”
Netanyahu, who is an MIT alumni, also took a swipe at the prestigious American universities that had a disastrous testimony before Congress last year.
“Well, let me give these befuddled academics a little context: Anti-Semitism is the world’s oldest hatred. For centuries, the massacre of Jews was always preceded by wild accusations,” he said. “Now, just as malicious lies were leveled for centuries at the Jewish people, malicious lies are now being leveled at the Jewish state.”
He also saluted the fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina who held up the American flag as protesters tried to take it down.
Netanyahu also called on the United States to fast-track weapons shipments to help expedite the end of the war in Gaza.
“Give us the tools, and we will finish the job,” the prime minister said, evoking Winston Churchill’s famous quote requesting weapons to finish the job in Europe. “The war in Gaza could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and returns all the hostages.”
He added that Israel will accept nothing but “total victory.”
[#item_full_content]
[[{“value”:”
In his Wednesday speech to a joint session of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the United States and proposed an “Abraham Alliance” between Israel and Arab states to combat Iran and its proxies.
“The new alliance I envision would be a natural extension of the groundbreaking Abraham Accords, those accords saw peace forged between Israel and four Arab countries and they were supported by Republicans and Democrats alike.”
Netanyahu’s address comes as Israel continues to battle Hamas terror in Gaza after the terror group invaded the Jewish state on October 7 and massacred more than 1,000 citizens.
This was the prime minister’s fourth time addressing Congress. His last address in 2015 focused on the Iranian threat, a thread he picked up again on Wednesday.
“Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism, all the turmoil, all the chaos, all the killings,” he said, quoting a top Hezbollah leader who called Israel a tool of America and said the “real war” is with the United States.
Netanyahu made the case for America and Israel standing together against Iran and terrorism, focusing on their shared values and military cooperation.
“Standing in Iran’s way is one proud, pro-American democracy. My country, the state of Israel,” he said.
”When Israel acts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons that could destroy Israel and threaten every American city, every city that you come from. We’re not only protecting ourselves, we’re protecting you.”
Netanyahu added that Israel helps prevent American boots from being on the ground in the Middle East’s many conflicts.
“We’ve jointly developed some of the most sophisticated weapons on Earth that help protect both our countries, and we also help. We also help keep American’s boots off the ground while protecting our interests in the Middle East.”
Joining Netanyahu was Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old Israeli who was held hostage in Gaza until she was freed by an elite unit after 245 days in captivity.
“On the morning of October 7, the entire world saw Noa’s look of desperation as she was violently abducted to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle,” adding that Argamani’s mother received her final wish of seeing her daughter returned before she passed away from cancer.
Applause for rescued hostage Noa Argamani during Benjamin Netanayhu’s speech before Congress. pic.twitter.com/Nzn1dP3h3U
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 24, 2024
Other guests included the grandfather of the two babies taken hostage with their parents by Hamas terrorists, and Iris Haim, the mother of an Israeli hostage Yotam Haim. Haim escaped his captors but was accidentally killed by IDF soldiers.
Netanyahu said it is Israel’s intention to liberate all hostages held in Gaza and have a “complete victory” over Hamas. Out of the 255 hostages taken, 135 have returned home.
Netanyahu also honored the heroes who helped fight Hamas on Oct. 7 where 1,200 people were killed including 39 Americans.
“Proportionately, compared to our population size, that’s like 20 9/11s in one day,” Netanyahu said. “And these monsters, they raped women, they beheaded men, they burned babies alive. They killed parents in front of their children and children in front of their parents.”
Four of Netanyahu’s guests were Israeli soldiers who fought heroically on October 7, including a tank commander who lost his right arm and vision in his left eye. Another soldier grabbed his gun during Hamas’s attack and ran seven miles from his home to join the fight, according to Netanyahu.
After the war, Netanyahu said Gaza must be demilitarized and deradicalized with a Palestinian civilian administration and Israel remaining in control over security to prevent terrorism for the “foreseeable future.”
“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,” he said. “Gaza should have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who do not seek to destroy Israel. That’s not too much to ask!”
Despite a boycott of the speech by over 50 mostly Democratic lawmakers, Netanyahu emphasized his desire to “anchor the bipartisan support that is so important for Israel” before departing on the trip. He was invited to Congress by its four top leaders: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Rep. Rashida Tlaib attended the speech wearing a keffiyeh and holding up signs reading “War Criminal” and “Guilty of Genocide.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib holds up a “war criminal” sign during Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech. pic.twitter.com/8qCMzL5ZH3
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 24, 2024
Netanyahu praised both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for their records of helping Israel.
He thanked Biden for immediately condemning Hamas’ attack, sending two aircraft carriers, and calling himself a “proud Irish American Zionist.”
“He came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour—a visit that will never be forgotten,” he said. “President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years. I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel.”
Netanyahu thanked Trump for helping facilitate the Abraham Accords, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to show recognition of the holy city as Israel’s capital.
He also condemned the attempted assassination attempt on Trump, stating that there is “no room for political violence in democracies.”
Netanyahu is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and Trump later this week.
The prime minister defended Israel’s right to exist and condemned the terrorist-sympathizing protesters who have caused chaos on America’s campuses and streets, accusing them of being “useful idiots for Iran.”
“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,” he said. “Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming ‘Gays for Gaza.’ They might as well hold up signs saying ‘Chickens for KFC.’”
He said the many protesters chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” have no idea what river or sea they are talking about.
“They not only get an F in geography, they get an F in history,” he said. “For nearly 4,000 years, the Land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. It’s always been our home, it will always be our home.”
Netanyahu, who is an MIT alumni, also took a swipe at the prestigious American universities that had a disastrous testimony before Congress last year.
“Well, let me give these befuddled academics a little context: Anti-Semitism is the world’s oldest hatred. For centuries, the massacre of Jews was always preceded by wild accusations,” he said. “Now, just as malicious lies were leveled for centuries at the Jewish people, malicious lies are now being leveled at the Jewish state.”
He also saluted the fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina who held up the American flag as protesters tried to take it down.
Netanyahu also called on the United States to fast-track weapons shipments to help expedite the end of the war in Gaza.
“Give us the tools, and we will finish the job,” the prime minister said, evoking Winston Churchill’s famous quote requesting weapons to finish the job in Europe. “The war in Gaza could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and returns all the hostages.”
He added that Israel will accept nothing but “total victory.”
“}]]
