PM Netanyahu has now had the honor of speaking four times to Congress which is more than any other world leader. Winston Churchill spoke three times to Congress. His speech was very well received by supporters in Congress. For many Israelis, even those who might have different opinions than that of the Prime Minister, his speech was considered excellent and it was encouraging for Israelis to see so many members of Congress applauding the Prime Minister of Israel. Netanyahu was accompanied by families of hostages and Israeli soldiers who were all honored by the crowd.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening (Wednesday) in Congress and received loud applause from the audience. His speech, which lasted 52 minutes, took place two days after his arrival in Washington. During the speech, Netanyahu presented the vision for the “day after” in Gaza and thanked the United States for its support for Israel. At the same time, in Israel, families of abductees protested and called for a “deal or leave”, this after the departure of the negotiating delegation to Qatar was postponed. Inside the hall, relatives of abductees such as Carmit Peletti Katzir were removed from the congress after revealing yellow shirts with the inscription “Close the deal now”. Absent from the speech were 100 of 215 Democratic members of Congress and 27 of 51 Democratic members of the Senate, while among Republicans there was an almost full attendance.
Netanyahu opened the speech by saying: “We are meeting today at a crossroads in history. This is not a clash of civilizations, this is a clash between barbarism and civilization. It is a clash between those who sanctify life and those who sanctify death. There are forces of progress that are winning. Israel and the US must stand together, because when we stand together, a simple thing happens – we win, they lose.”
Next to these words, Netanyahu presented the massacre on October 7: “It was the day of Simchat Torah. Thousands of Israelis celebrated at the Nova party, and suddenly when children were sleeping in their beds – the heaven turned into hell. They massacred 1,200 people – including 39 Americans. Relatively compared to the size The population, it’s like 29 cases of September 11. They beheaded, raped women, burned babies alive, murdered children in front of their parents. They kidnapped hundreds of people into Gaza, and Israel released some of the abductees,” Netanyahu said, receiving applause from the audience.
Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Hamas captivity in Operation Arnon, was also present in the audience with her father Yaakov. “On the morning of October 7, the world saw signs of despair, when she was kidnapped to Gaza,” said the Prime Minister about Noa. “I met Liora’s mother a few months ago, when she was dying of cancer. She told me: ‘Prime Minister, I have one last request. I want to see my daughter Noa before I die.’ Two months ago I approved a breathtaking commando operation. Our forces, including an officer named Arnon Zamora, broke in and freed Noa and three other abductees,” Netanyahu noted.
He continued to mention the relatives of the abductees in the audience, “including Eliyahu Bibas, grandfather of the beautiful red-haired grandchildren, who were kidnapped with their mother and father.” He added: “With them is also Iris Haim, whose son was killed. Families of American abductees are also with us.” At this point, the Prime Minister thanked the US President for standing by Israel: “Thanks to Biden for his support. He called Hamas pure evil, he sent aircraft carriers as a deterrent, and he came to Israel to stand by our side in difficult times – a visit that will never be forgotten. I want to thank Biden for half a century of support for Israel – he said of himself that he is a proud Zionist president,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu introduced the fighters present in the crowd, including the fighter Sgt. Avihail Reuven, from the 890th Paratrooper Brigade: “He ran eight miles, because he had no weapon. He saved the lives of many Israelis. We thank him for his courage on the 7 in October,” Netanyahu said. He also introduced Major General Ashraf Bakhiri, a fighter and senior tracker from the Bedouin community: “On October 7, he ran to Kibbutz Bari. Like Ashraf, the Muslim soldiers in the IDF fought alongside Jewish and Christian soldiers with enormous courage.”
Netanyahu emphasized: “IDF soldiers come from all corners of society, right and left, religious and secular.” Everyone is infused with the spirit of the Maccabis, ancient Jewish warriors.” In this context, he mentioned the son of Yehiel Leiter, the son of a Holocaust survivor, an officer in a commando unit who was killed in an explosion near a mosque after he volunteered to return to battle. “We respect his son’s heroism. I say to all the bereaved families in Israel – the sacrifice of your loved ones will not be in vain,” Netanyahu noted.
At this point, Netanyahu drew attention to the Iranian threat, stating: “We learned that Iran finances anti-Israeli demonstrations in the US,” when he mentioned the American students who waved US flags on July 4 in front of protesters. “USA” chants were heard from the stands. Netanyahu offered: “I have a message for the protesters and Iranians in Tehran who kill women who do not cover their hair – they become Iran’s useful idiots.” He jokingly added: “Some of those abductees are holding ‘LGBT for Gaza’ signs. It’s like waving a ‘chickens for KFC’ sign.” The pro-Palestinian congresswoman Rashida Tlib, who came to the hall wearing a hat, at this point waved a “Guilty of Genocide” sign.
Netanyahu referred to the accusations against the Jews throughout history, and in this context noted the demonstrations at the universities and the lax condemnation of those who lead them: “Anti-Semitism is the oldest hatred in the world. For generations, Jews were slaughtered under great claims – spreading plagues, children’s blood to bake matzah. As these lies lived for hundreds of years – They are now directed at the Jewish state. The claim that Israel is racist and genocidal demonizes Israel and Jews everywhere. No wonder we see a rise in anti-Semitism in the US and throughout the world. Every time we see the spirit of anti-Semitism – we have to condemn it unequivocally.”
Later, Netanyahu referred to the fighting in Gaza and accusations of genocide, and suggested: “I suggest that you listen to John Spencer, an expert who has studied every modern war. He said that Israel implemented precautions to prevent harm to civilians from any other army and far beyond what is required of it by the laws of war. Remember what Many say? If Israel enters Rafah, I asked the soldiers how many civilians they killed. You want to know why? Because Israel took the civilians out of the fighting zones.
He added and thanked those who came out against the accusations of the International Court in The Hague, and emphasized: “The ICC is trying to tie our hands in an effort to defend ourselves,” and added: “America will be the next to be prevented from defending itself. This is what is at stake. The hands of the Jewish state Israel will always defend itself.”
Later, Netanyahu returned to the Iranian issue, mentioning the attacks carried out by Tehran and also by its agents around the world: “Iran sees the USA as its biggest enemy. Khamenei admitted that Israel is only a tool. The real war is against the USA. In the USA they made threats against former senior officials, and Philo threatened to assassinate former President Donald Trump.”
Netanyahu again linked Israel’s fight against Iran to relations with the US, noting: “Israel is fighting to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons – we are not only protecting ourselves, but protecting you. Our fight is your fight. Our victory is your victory,” he said to applause from the audience. He also mentioned Hezbollah, which has been attacking Israel since October 8, and the evacuation of residents from the north: “80 thousand of our residents were evacuated from their homes and became refugees in their own country. We are determined to return them to their homes. We will try to achieve this diplomatically, but Israel will do what it needs to restore security to the border and return its residents safely to their homes.”
In his speech, the Prime Minister again acknowledged the American aid, but criticized the halting of arms shipments from the US: “Give us the tools and we will complete the job. Today Israel is fighting at the front of civilization, I plead with the US – give us the tools faster, and we will complete the work faster.”
Later, Netanyahu presented his plans for the “day after” in Gaza, saying: “The day after we defeat Hamas, a new Gaza will emerge,” and added: “A new Gaza, one that is demilitarized and not radical. We need to guarantee military freedom of action to ensure that Gaza does not return to being A threat to Israel. A civilian government that does not want to destroy Israel is not much to ask for.
In addition, he also thanked Donald Trump for various agreements, mentioned the assassination attempt on him, and emphasized that there is no place for political violence in a democracy. He also thanked him for recognizing the Golan Heights and moving the embassy to Jerusalem, our eternal capital, which will never be divided again. He ended his speech by promising that “no matter how long it takes, and how difficult it will be – Israel will not surrender. We will protect our people and fight until we achieve a victory of freedom over the reign of terror, a victory of good against evil.”
President Herzog responded to the speech and congratulated Netanyahu: “I welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu’s important speech before a joint session of the American Congress. The immediate and urgent return of the abductees must be at the heart of the global agenda, as is the global threat from the Iranian evil and terrorist empire, which is important to reiterate The same before the chosen ones of our great and important ally. We must stand together in the face of the terrorism that is led by Tehran and threatens the Middle East and the whole world.”
