Benjamin Netanyahu addresses US Congress (photo by Amos Ben-Gershom) (GPO)
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday and the reviews are in. Some democrats and left-wing Israelis slammed the speech while Republicans and right-wing Israelis said they liked it.
In Israel, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a critical statement saying, “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. There was also no mention of the 120 hostages who, once again tonight, will not return home.”
However, Israel’s President of Israel Isaac Herzog was pleased with Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.
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He released a statement on Twitter saying, “I welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu’s important speech before the joint session of US Congress. The immediate and urgent return of the hostages must be at the heart of the world agenda, as must the global threat from the Iranian evil and terrorist empire – and it’s important to reiterate this before the elected leaders of our greatest and most important ally. We must stand together against the Tehran-led-terror that threatens the Middle East and the entire world.”
The former Spacer of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, who is no fan of Benjamin Netanyahu’s, issued a critical statement on the speech.
“Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation in the House Chamber today was by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States,” she said. “Many of us who love Israel spent time today listening to Israeli citizens whose families have suffered in the wake of the October 7th Hamas terror attack and kidnappings.”
“These families are asking for a ceasefire deal that will bring the hostages home – and we hope the Prime Minister would spend his time achieving that goal,” added the still current member of Congress who did not attend Netanyahu’s address.
However, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, who has been a vocal supporter of both Benjamin Netanyahu and former President Donald Trump, was impressed, calling the speech “epic.”
“I think the regional integration was really important,” he told “The Hill.”
And a Jewish democratic Congressman from New York, Jerry Nadler called Netanyahu’s speech “fundamentally dishonest.”
Nadler told MSNBC, “He [Netanyahu] says he wants peace, but his political interest is to keep the war going on as long as possible.”
Also noticeably absent from Benjamin Netanyahu’s address was US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now widely expected to be the Democratic nominee for president this year after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. She was criticized by Israel’s supporters for doing so. However, Netanyahu irritated the White House by agreeing to accept the invitation to speak before the Congress without first seeking its approval and because the address came before Netanyahu’s meeting with President Biden set for Thursday.
