Israel’s Netanyahu gives fighting speech to Congress, slowing Harris momentum

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a spirited defense of Israel’s war against Hamas before a joint session of Congress, asking for more military aid to be delivered faster to Israel.

The speech came at a critical time for presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, putting the brakes on hopes for an undivided Democrat Party as she seeks the Democrat nomination for President.

The media have nonetheless been trying mightily to prop up Harris prior to her expected official nomination.

Netanyahu’s address was meant to bolster congressional support for Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists who attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.  

“Three thousand Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel. They butchered 1,200 people from 41 countries, including 39 Americans. Proportionately, compared to our population size, that’s like 20 9/11s in one day,” Netanyahu told Congress.  

Appearing before a joint session of Congress for the fourth time, Netanyahu gave a fighting speech that warned Israel’s enemies are, first and foremost, the enemies of the United States. 

“And if Israel’s hands are tied [in the war against terrorists] America is next,” Netanyahu promised.  

News media had widely varied accounts, but NBC News estimated “roughly 40 Democrats in the House and the Senate boycotted the address” by Netanyahu, including presumptive Democrat nominee and Senate president Harris.  

That’s actually better than in 2015, when CNN reported 58 Democrats, including then-Vice President Joe Biden, skipped a similar address to Congress by the Israeli prime minister. But that address was not given amid the war with Hamas.  

Speaking to a mostly friendly assembly of U.S. Senate and House members, Netanyahu was often interrupted by enthusiastic applause in his address on Wednesday.   

The biggest applause line was when the prime minister praised fraternity members at the University of North Carolina for defending the American flag during a pro-Hamas demonstration at the university. 

“So, these protesters burned American flags even on the 4th of July. And I wish to salute the fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina who protected the American flag, protected the American flag against these anti-Israel protesters,” said Netanyahu, who was then interrupted by cheers and chants of “USA! USA!” 

But the underlying theme of Netanyahu’s address was the right of Israel – or any nation – to defend itself against the “barbarism” of terrorists.  

“We meet today at a crossroads of history. Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life,” he said.  

Repeatedly, Netanyahu tied terror networks such as Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah to Iran, calling them proxies for the Ayatollahs who are really waging war against America. He pointed to recent comments by a Hezbollah commander who said the real war was not with Israel but with America.  

Reaction to the speech was largely divided along ideological, but not party, lines.  

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi slammed the Netanyahu address as “the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States.”  

However, Democrat Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a strong ally of Israel, ditched his casual attire and even wore a suit in approval of the Netanyahu presentation, said Newsweek.  

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, went even further, dressing up his language – lauding the speech as “Churchillian.” 

“I thought Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech was amazing, historic,” said Cruz.  

Cruz’s reaction was typical among Republicans, even those who voted against Israeli aid, such as Rep. Lauren Boebert, Colorado.  

“George Washington, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Netanyahu,” wrote Boebert via X.  

Throughout his address Netanyahu sought to strike a bipartisan tone, lavishing praise on both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. But he clearly gave a hat-tip to the election of Trump in November as better for peace in the Middle East.  

Indeed, Netanyahu thanked Trump for brokering the peace agreement in the Middle East between Arab states and Israel known as the Abraham Accords, even proposing to expand the accords into an anti-Iranian alliance known as the Abraham Alliance.   

For Democrats, Netanyahu’s speech interrupted Harris’ glittering early march to the Democrat nomination, dousing the party with cold water and exposing cold ideological divisions that could fracture leftists.  

The UK’s liberal Independent reported “no issue had divided Democrats more than Israel’s military response to Hamas following the October 7 attacks” prior to Biden’s announcement he was not seeking re-election.   

Republicans were quick to jump on Harris’ boycott of the speech and tie it to the violent, pro-Hamas protests that featured widespread vandalism, even as Netanyahu spoke to Congress.  

The protests just outside the Capitol were reminiscent of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.  

“Kamala Harris’ embarrassing snub of @netanyahu’s Joint Address to Congress was a stunt to appease the pro-Hamas base of the Democrat Party that just burned American flags, clashed with police, and spread dangerous pro-terror chaos and violence. Why won’t Kamala disavow these antisemitic terrorist sympathizers?” wrote Rep. Elise Stefanik in a barb at Harris.  

Harris and Biden scheduled private meetings with Netanyahu on Thursday.  

Such a meeting could expose Harris to protests from the Democrat base that hates Israel, just one week before an anticipated Democrat roll-call vote that could make her the official presidential nominee of the party.  

For Netanyahu, the meeting could test the limits of the promise he made at the end of his congressional address – at least as to his feeling for a possible President Harris.  

“In this noble mission, as in many others, Israel will always remain America’s indispensable ally. Through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, Israel will always be your loyal friend and your steadfast partner,” vowed Netanyahu.