What is needed is a promise to end the violence and the immediate announcement of a ceasefire.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s fourth address to the US Congress — he has now surpassed Winston Churchill in this regard — was marked by disappointments and divisions. In the run-up to the speech, families of Israeli hostages told US media that they hoped their prime minister would announce a deal to end the violence and return captives. He did not. Rather, to the disappointment of those hoping for an end to the war, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel was striving for “total victory” and asked the US for more aid and arms. And while he might take heart at the applause at the end of his speech, there is little doubt that America’s political class has never been more divided on its near-unconditional support for Israel. This was a moment for Netanyahu to rise to statesmanship — for peace as well as for his country’s interests. He did not step up to it.
The fact is that apart from racking up a growing body count — at least 39,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since Israel began its retaliation against Hamas’s October 7 attacks — the conflict has done little more than allow the PM to stay on in power. Hamas still reportedly holds 150 hostages, Israel faces increasing diplomatic isolation and the International Criminal Court has admitted a case of genocide against Israel. National interest, if not humanitarian concern, demands that the Israeli government works urgently towards a ceasefire and builds bridges. Instead, Netanyahu attacked those who disagreed with his course of action. He said the protesters — many of whom were demonstrating against his actions and presence in the House – “stand with rapists and murders” and that critics of Israel are “Iran’s useful idiots”. Ironically, his abuse is directed at many of the leaders he is seeking to woo: Nearly half of the Democratic Party’s legislators, and even some Republicans, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, boycotted the speech and others, like majority leader Chuck Schumer, refused to shake his hand. With the presidential election fast approaching, the consensus on supporting Israel — both between parties and within the ruling establishment — is likely to fray further.
Netanyahu praised both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump in his address, calling the latter an “Irish-American Zionist”. However, he has constantly violated the red lines drawn by the White House — with the attacks on Rafah, for example. The Democrats are paying a political price for the government’s support for Israel, with many protesters — including university students and urban liberals — being part of the party’s base. In fact, at the Democratic primary in Michigan in February, 1,00,000 “uncontested” ballots were cast to register disappointment with Biden’s backing of Israel. That Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, chose not to attend Netanyahu’s address, citing a prior commitment, speaks volumes. Netanyahu is set to meet both Trump and Biden during his visit. It’s time he stopped demanding unconditional support. What is needed is a promise to end the violence and the immediate announcement of a ceasefire.
