OAN Staff Blake Wolf
3:43 PM – Wednesday, July 24, 2024
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a nearly hour-long speech to Congress.
In the address, Netanyahu (Bibi) laid out his intentions for the ongoing war in Gaza and declared that the nation must keep fighting until Hamas is completely eliminated and the hostages are returned.
The Prime Minister received multiple standing ovations from both Republicans and Democrats.
Bibi also went into detail regarding his vision for the future of a post-war Gaza, proposing how “a new Gaza could emerge.”
“Demilitarization and deradicalization – those two concepts were applied to Germany and Japan after World War II and that led to decades of peace, prosperity and security. Following our victory, with the help of regional partners, the demilitarization and deradicalization of Gaza can also lead to a future of security, prosperity and peace,” Netanyahu proclaimed.
The Prime Minister explained Israel’s need for expedited military aid, so that the nation can “finish the job faster” and avoid a broader conflict with surrounding Muslim countries who already have shaky tensions with both the U.S. and Israel.
“Fast-tracking US military aid can dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East.” Netanyahu stated.
The Prime Minister pitched American politicians on the U.S. and Israel’s aligned interests, citing Iran’s “Axis of Terror,” which he maintained threatens the two allies.
The “Axis” he was referring to includes Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. The three groups have claimed responsibility for multiple terrorist attacks across Israel since the war began on October 7th.
Meanwhile, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Israel criticized the Prime Minister’s address to Congress, stating:
“45 minutes of speech and applause won’t erase the one sad fact: the words ‘Deal Now!’ were absent from the prime minister’s address.”
Netanyahu had neglected to mention any ceasefire negotiations despite international criticism of IDF conduct as well as pressure from the Biden administration. He did, however, address the accusations of genocidal conduct on behalf of the IDF as “outrageous slander,” comparing the accusations to the events that led up to the Holocaust.
Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian rioters and protesters were seen clashing with police, and publicly burning U.S. flags while hoisting Palestinian flags on flagpoles outside of Union Station in Washington, D.C.
At least five rioters were reportedly arrested in the aftermath and during Netanyahu’s address.
Later, the Prime Minister adamantly denounced the pro-Palestine rioters outside, asserting that they “choose to stand with evil” and are “Tehran’s useful idiots.”
Nearly half of House and Senate Democrats skipped Netanyahu’s speech, including the presumed Democrat presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Democrat Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib even held up a black sign that said “war criminal” during Bibi’s speech.
Additionally, at one point, Netanyahu even thanked former President Trump, which prompted a standing ovation from Republican members of Congress while Democrats stayed seated.
Netanyahu concluded his speech by praising the alliance between the U.S. and Israel.
Let us “help keep America’s boots off the ground while protecting our shared interests in the Middle East,” Bibi added.
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