Netanyahu's US Congress Speech

Netanyahu's US Congress Speech

In July 2024, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington, D.C. to hold meetings with senior officials and deliver a speech to the United States Congress. Prime Minister Netanyahu urges U.S. to stand with Israel as war in Gaza nears 10th month. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the U.S. to stand with Israel and vowed that the country would do "whatever it must" to defeat Hamas and return the remaining hostages from Gaza.

Netanyahu was greeted with extensive applause in the House chamber in the U.S. Capitol, even as dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the speech over humanitarian concerns or in protest of his leadership. He urged Congress to fast-track additional military aid as the war in Gaza nears the 10-month mark. "When we stand together, something very simple happens: We win, they lose," Netanyahu said. "And my friends, I came to assure you today of one thing: We will win.”

Due to Israel's handling of the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. was met with both political backlash and support. Some key US House members boycotted Netanyahu's speech in Congress. Among the boycotters are former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Isolationist Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) made clear he was explicitly boycotting the speech as well, saying he didn't want to be a "prop" for Netanyahu.

The censuses of those who disliked Netanyahu's speech was " The speech was pure evil. Everything Netanyahu said was a lie and Congress gave him a standing ovation. Clapping for genocide like deranged zombies." The senators elected by the American people were bought by the Israeli lobby. Instead of being the voice of the people, they became the voice of Israel and stood up and applauded the genocidal, murderer Nazi leader @netanyahu 49 times. 

Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress has exposed the true nature of the US regime to the international community. When Netanyahu says "our enemies are your enemies, our victory is your victory" also remember the corollary: "our killing of innocents is your killing of innocents." America is deeply complicit in Netanyahu's barbaric war on civilians in Gaza. The Israeli lobby bought the senators with money, and this is a shameful situation for America. The American government chose to be complicit in genocide.

Democracy Now! @democracynow tweets about the speech as " The most disturbing part of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress was to watch “U.S. Congress jubilantly cheer on — scramble over one another in order to cheer — for what is essentially a war on children," says @4noura.

The US will lecture the world about international law and order then greet a genocidal war criminal with ovation and applause. This is US hypocrisy on full display. Spain’s Ione Belarra Urteaga; a politician and psychologist says about this speech, “Seeing the US Congress applauding a true terrorist, a child murderer like Netanyahu, gives me chills. That support is what allows him to do what he does. The US is as responsible as he is for the genocide.”

The core of Netanyahu's message can be summarized as follows:

— Israelis are the ultimate victims

— anti-Zionism is antisemitism

— Ignore the ICC and your own eyes

— Give us more bombs to level Gaza

— Help us bomb Iran

— We want Gaza and Golan Heights

— More normalization with Saudi & Co

Congresswoman Cori Bush @RepCori 

Prime Minister Netanyahu is a war criminal. It is sickening that Congress gave him a standing ovation. History will remember those who stood for genocide and those who opposed it.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @AOC tweets "It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress. 40k Palestinians are dead. Hostages aren’t home. Netanyahu is a war criminal. I will be boycotting his address".

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez tweets "Today, I am reminded of brave staffers, diplomats, and government officials serving in dissent, saying "enough" to the endless war in Gaza. #CeasefireNOW. 

They join our students, community members, and public servants who courageously advocate for our shared peace, safety, and humanity. They inspire us and challenge us to act. We must listen and stand by them."

“Judaism FORBIDS Zionism. Jews never tried gaining sovereignty of the Holy Land. Our grandparents lived in peace with their Arabic neighbors. Zionists destroyed it to promote their atheistic ‘nationalism.’ “Netanyahu you do NOT represent us!”

We are concerned for our brothers in the Holy Land who are vulnerable to a warmongering government for where their safety is last on the list.