Netanyahu Addresses Congress Amid Protests and Political Divisions

Bollywood Fever: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to speak before Congress on Wednesday, aiming to bolster U.S. support for Israel’s ongoing fight against Hamas and other adversaries. This comes as the Biden administration urges him to focus on negotiating an end to the devastating nine-month war in Gaza.

Netanyahu is assured a warm welcome from Republican lawmakers who arranged his speech in the House chamber. This appearance marks him as the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times, surpassing Winston Churchill. However, many Democrats and independents plan to boycott his appearance. Vice President Kamala Harris, who traditionally would sit behind any speaking dignitary, will be absent due to a long-scheduled trip. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the next Democrat in line, also declined to attend.

Republicans have criticized Harris’s absence as a sign of disloyalty to an ally. However, Donald Trump’s running-mate, JD Vance, said campaigning commitments would also prevent him from attending Netanyahu’s speech. Outside the Capitol, demonstrators are expected to protest against the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians and Netanyahu’s inability to free Israeli and American hostages.

In anticipation of these protests, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned of a “zero-tolerance policy” for any disturbances in the Capitol building. “It is our tradition to acknowledge every guest speaker’s right to free expression even if we disagree with their viewpoint,” the Louisiana Republican wrote to members on Tuesday.

Johnson arranged the address to honor the historically warm bonds between the U.S. and Israel and to highlight the political weight of supporting Israel in U.S. politics. However, recent American political turmoil, including the assassination attempt against Trump and President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek another term, has somewhat overshadowed the visit.

Netanyahu aims to project the image of a tough, respected statesman for an increasingly critical domestic audience in Israel. This may be challenging given the wide division among Americans over his conduct of the war. Many Democrats who support Israel but criticize Netanyahu see the address as a Republican effort to portray itself as the party most loyal to Israel and to provide Netanyahu with political relief.

“I don’t know all the motivations for Speaker Johnson initiating the invitation, but clearly he wanted to throw a political lifeline to Netanyahu, whose popularity is very low in Israel right now,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, among the dozens of Democrats set to boycott, said on Tuesday.

Netanyahu will also meet with Biden and Harris on Thursday, and Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. The United States is Israel’s most important ally, arms supplier, and source of military aid as Israel battles Hamas since the group attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Netanyahu’s visit, his first abroad since the war began, comes under the shadow of arrest warrants sought against him by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes against Palestinians. The United States does not recognize the ICC.

Netanyahu says his goals for the U.S. visit include pressing for the release of hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, building support for Israel’s continued battle against Hamas, and advocating for ongoing confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Iranian-allied groups in the region. The U.S., France, and others seek to calm border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, fearing a larger war.

Netanyahu may also address a new China-brokered deal between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to form a government together. The agreement aims to resolve a rivalry that complicates Palestinian governance in Gaza whenever the war ends. Israel has denounced the pact, and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reiterated that Hamas is a terror group that should not govern Palestinians.

Some Democrats are wary of Netanyahu, who used a 2015 joint address to Congress to denounce then-President Barack Obama’s pending nuclear deal with Iran. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said he does not expect Wednesday’s speech to be a repeat of 2015’s address.

As the prime minister speaks, multiple protests are planned in and around the Capitol. The largest is set for Wednesday morning, with organizers planning to march around the Capitol demanding Netanyahu’s arrest on war crimes charges. Relatives of Israeli hostages are also planning a vigil on the National Mall.

Also Read Other Articles, UK Police Arrest Man for Attempted Murder After British Army Soldier Stabbed in Kent

Missing Hiker Found Alive After 14 Days in Kentucky Wilderness

Israel’s Renewed Offensive in Khan Younis Results in Heavy Casualties