In a moving speech to the US Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened the October 7 Hamas’s invasion to the 9/11 Al-Qaeda attacks, calling them days “that will forever live in infamy”. Israel PM After President Joe Biden quit the race to the White House, PM Netanyahu made an attempt to win over the US amid the ongoing war with Hamas. However, Netanyahu’s address was not without controversy, as thirty Democratic leaders boycotted the speech in protest of Israel’s military actions and policies, while potential Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris gave it a miss.
However, her absence was heavily criticized by the Israeli authorities, alleging that Harris “was unable to distinguish between good and evil.” It also stated that it was “not a way to treat an ally.” Meanwhile, Former President Donald Trump also criticized Harris for missing PM Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress, making a daring plea to Jewish Americans to abandon the Democratic Party.
Despite the fact, Netanyahu fervently pleaded for support from the US against “Hamas terrorism”, highlighting the gravity of the situation. He emphasized the psychological impact that seizure of hostages causes to families, and promised to work tirelessly to secure their release.
It is to be noted that Netanyahu and Harris are expected to meet separately on Thursday, where the talks will focus on resolving the humanitarian situation affecting Palestinian civilians, guaranteeing Israel’s security, and ending the war with Gaza. According to a vice president’s aide, Harris will stress the necessity of a ceasefire deal that protects Israel, frees all captives, and puts an end to the misery in Gaza while also upholding the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom, dignity, and self-determination.
Meanwhile, in a noteworthy exchange, Netanyahu thanked President Joe Biden for his support and mentioned former President Donald Trump’s aid to Israel, laying the groundwork for their forthcoming Friday discussions. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unintentionally showed up to PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in Washington, sitting along with Netanyahu’s wife Sara, a number of Israeli soldiers, and at least one former Hamas hostage.
As the presidential election approaches, Netanyahu’s visit arranged by Republican lawmakers signified a renewed emphasis on US-Israel relations, amid concerns that the US foreign policy in the Middle East might change going forward.
Comments