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“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday to achieve ‘total victory’ against Hamas… Netanyahu used the high-profile address to a joint meeting of Congress to emphasize longstanding and close ties between the United States and Israel. But the speech put in sharp relief the divisions in American society stirred by the war, with dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the address and thousands of protesters outside the Capitol condemning the war and the humanitarian crisis created by it.” AP News
The left criticizes Netanyahu’s speech, and calls for a ceasefire.
“It was a rambling repetition of his familiar themes, particularly that of Israel and the U.S. standing as allies in a clash between civilization and barbarism — and Iran representing a moral threat to both as their ‘most radical, most murderous enemy.’ It might have been persuasive, if Netanyahu’s long years of warning about the ‘Iranian threat’ had been accompanied by actual achievements…
“Instead, during his long reign, Iran has become a nuclear-threshold state and its Axis of Resistance has expanded its reach and capabilities… In his speech, he offered no ideas — beyond that of the vague, aspirational ‘Abrahamic Alliance’ — on how to actually counter Iran. But he did find time to praise a fraternal society at the University of North Carolina and condemn the ‘Gays for Gaza’ campus protesters.”
Arash Azizi, Forward
“Israeli officials had said ahead of time that the prime minister’s speech would be measured and bipartisan, and that he would focus on the negotiations—which the U.S., Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and Hamas have been conducting—for a cease-fire and hostage trade. But except for one sentence, in which he acknowledged the existence of such talks, he said nothing about this…
“This was an address intended for audiences in his homeland. It started at 2 p.m. Washington time, or 9 p.m. in Israel—TV prime time.”
Fred Kaplan, Slate
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) writes, “[Netanyahu’s] initial work to prop up Hamas is responsible for widespread destabilization in Palestine. He has [also] presided over the detainment of Palestinians without due process, the illegal expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and the practice of ‘mowing the lawn’, indiscriminately murdering dozens of Palestinians in horrifying military onslaughts…
“In Israel, thousands of people are protesting against Netanyahu’s handling of the war, which is further putting hostages held in Gaza at risk. They are calling for a ceasefire and negotiations between Israel and Hamas to protect the safety of innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza. On Tuesday, thousands of people [protested] outside the Capitol, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and release of the hostages. The majority of American people and people around the world support this… We need a paradigm shift.”
Jamaal Bowman, The Guardian
The right praises Netanyahu’s speech, and criticizes lawmakers who boycotted it.
The right praises Netanyahu’s speech, and criticizes lawmakers who boycotted it.
“[Netanyahu] observed that Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, its looming confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its response to an attack on Tel Aviv by the Yemeni Houthis are all facets of the conflict with Iran. ‘When Israel fights Hamas, we’re fighting Iran,’ he said. ‘For Iran, Israel is first, America is next. When Israel acts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, we’re not only protecting ourselves, we’re protecting you.’…
“He’s right. Israel is one of America’s front-line partners in a war against a terroristic entity that has — as the prime minister noted — killed American servicemen and servicewomen by proxy, taken Americans hostage, hatched murder plots targeting U.S. officials, and even sent assassins to the United States.”
Noah Rothman, National Review
“The gratitude Netanyahu displayed for America’s support was canny and bipartisan. He saluted Joe Biden for having Israel’s back (though he mostly focused on Biden’s support at the beginning of the war) — and saluted Donald Trump for his role in moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and helping Israel secure historic ties with Arab countries in the Abraham Accords…
“‘The war in Gaza could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and returns the hostages.’ This is the unassailable truth. ‘Thank you, America. Thank you for your support and solidarity,’ he concluded. ‘Together we shall defend our common civilization.’ These were words it would have been good for Kamala Harris to hear. But she was busy. Talking to sorority girls.”
John Podhoretz, New York Post
“The lawmakers who boycotted the speech by Israel’s Prime Minister to Congress on Wednesday revealed more about themselves than they did about Benjamin Netanyahu. Had they listened, they might have learned why Israel fights. They also would have heard from Mr. Netanyahu that ‘Israel has enabled more than 40,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza. That’s half-a-million tons of food and more than 3,000 calories [a day] for every man, woman and child in Gaza’ before Hamas’s theft…
“While protesters in Washington tore down and burned U.S. flags, chanting ‘Allahu akbar,’ Mr. Netanyahu argued, ‘Our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, our victory will be your victory.’ The American people know that. Do their leaders?”
Editorial Board, Wall Street Journal
Man traveling width of Scotland in homemade bicycle canoe.
Citizen Tribune
