Netanyahu praises Trump in US Congress speech boycotted by Democrats
Benjamin Netanyahu used a speech to the US Congress which attracted a Democrat boycott to commend Donald Trump and attack protesters as “Iran’s useful idiots”.
Kamala Harris, who is expected to assume the Democratic presidential nomination, was among 80 Democrats to snub the Israeli leader’s remarks, in which he proposed a plan for the Middle East after the war in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu gave a fiery speech from the US House of Representatives chamber, which attracted thousands of protesters outside the US Capitol. He condemned liberal protesters as “Iran’s useful idiots” who “stand with rapists and murderers”.
The senior Democrats who boycotted the speech included Nancy Pelosi, amid opposition in the party to Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Ms Harris, who would normally have joined the House for a visiting leader, attended a campaign event in Indiana.
Other high-profile boycotters included Jim Clyburn, the Democrat majority whip in the House, and the New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Around half of congressional Democrats in total missed the speech.
US-Israeli security pact
Mr Netanyahu used his remarks to set out a plan for the days after the war in Gaza, when he said Israel would “retain overriding security control” in the territory, modelled on the demilitarisation of Japan and Germany after the Second World War.
He also proposed a new US-Israeli security pact, named the “Abraham Alliance” designed to “counter the growing Iranian threat”, named after the Abraham Accords, an Arab–Israeli normalisation agreement signed in 2020.
Mr Netanyahu thanked Donald Trump for his support for that agreement, and said he was relieved he “emerged safe and sound” from a “dastardly” assassination attempt earlier this month. The two men are set to meet in Florida during the Israeli leader’s visit to the US.
The speech was Mr Netanyahu’s fourth address to Congress, and came amid concern from Biden administration officials about his strategy in Gaza.
The US believes that Israel is nearing a peace agreement with Hamas that would see hostages released by the terror group in exchange for a ceasefire.
However, there are also fears that Mr Biden’s pro-Israeli approach to the war could harm Ms Harris, the likely Democratic nominee, in the presidential election in November.
Polls show young liberal voters have drifted away from the party since Hamas’s attacks on Oct 7 last year.
Mr Netantyahu’s speech drew pro-Palestinian protesters outside Congress.
Protesters ripped down an American flag outside Union Station, near Congress, and replaced it with a Palestinian flag. Other protesters burnt an effigy of Mr Netanyahu at Washington Union Station.
As police in riot gear tried to contain the demonstration using pepper spray, others openly flew Hamas’s flag. One protester could be heard calling police officers “f—ing scum”.
Police also arrested six people who disrupted Mr Netanyahu’s speech from the public gallery.
He criticised Western protesters and “befuddled academics” who have condemned Israel rather than Hamas on campus during the conflict.
“For all we know, Iran is funding the anti-Israel protests outside this building,” he said.
“Well, I have a message for these protesters: when the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots.”
He added: “Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming ‘gays for Gaza’. They might as well hold up signs saying ‘chickens for KFC’.”
Some attendees made clear their opposition to Mr Netanyahu in the House chamber. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, wore a Palestinian keffiyeh as he spoke.
The Israeli leader did not directly address the boycott in his remarks, but referred indirectly to nervousness in Congress about the war by calling on American politicians to increase military aid to Israel.
The Biden administration has halted the delivery of some large bombs amid concerns about civilian casualties.
“I deeply appreciate America’s support, including in this current war, but this is an exceptional moment,” he said.
“Fast-tracking US military aid could dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East.”
Quoting Sir Winston Churchill, he added: “Give us the tools, and we’ll finish the job today.”
He repeatedly drew common cause between the US and Israel, over threats from Iran and the behaviour of protesters.
“These protesters burn American flags even on the fourth of July,” he said, adding that US intelligence officials had recently uncovered a plan by Iranian-linked assassins to kill Trump.
“Friends, if you remember one thing from this speech, remember this: our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with both Mr Biden and Ms Harris in Washington, before flying to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, to see Trump on Friday.
Trump said online on Tuesday that he and Mr Netanyahu would create “peace and stability” in the Middle East if he wins a second term in November.