Before his departure, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed the strength of the alliance with the USA. However, it is uncertain whether he can fulfill hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
Accompanied by protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give a highly anticipated speech to both houses of the US Congress in Washington today. One of the topics to be addressed is the Gaza war, which has been raging for more than nine months. Relatives of Israeli hostages who are accompanying Netanyahu on his US trip are hoping for an announcement from the head of government about a ceasefire and the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.
The day before Netanyahu’s speech, police arrested several demonstrators who had protested against the Gaza war in a building belonging to the US Parliament. Although they had legally entered the Cannon House Office Building, which is part of the Capitol building complex, the Capitol Police announced on Tuesday (local time), protests were not permitted there. Because the demonstrators did not comply with the order to end the protest, the building was cleared. Similar protests had already taken place there in recent months.
Report: Netanyahu wants to improve his image
It is Netanyahu’s first visit to Washington in almost four years and his first trip abroad since the Islamist Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, which led to the war in Gaza. Netanyahu wants to use his speech to the US Congress to rehabilitate both his tarnished image as “the protector of Israel” and the Israeli politician with the greatest influence in the US, wrote the well-connected Israeli journalist Barak Ravid on the US news portal “Axios”.
Both US President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have announced meetings with Netanyahu. He will see Biden on Thursday, Trump on Friday. Because of Biden’s corona infection, it was unclear for a long time whether his meeting with Netanyahu would take place. The mood between Biden and Netanyahu has recently been tense because of the Gaza war. According to media reports, a meeting with Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is also planned for Thursday.
Reports: Netanyahu meets with Biden, Trump and Harris
Harris will not attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress today, however, as she has planned a trip to Indianapolis, the New York Times reported. Dozens of Democratic representatives have announced that they will boycott Netanyahu’s speech, primarily because of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war, Ravid recently wrote on Axios. Many Democrats are also still angry about Netanyahu’s previous speech to Congress in 2015, which the Republicans staged without the White House’s permission.
Netanyahu used the speech to attack the nuclear agreement with Iran, which was one of the most important foreign policy initiatives of the then Democratic US President Barack Obama. The result was a rift with the White House and the Democrats “that never fully healed,” wrote Ravid. Netanyahu’s new speech is expected to be less controversial this time, wrote the New York Times. Before leaving, Netanyahu emphasized the strength of the alliance between the two countries.
Netanyahu emphasizes strength of alliance with the US
The Israeli head of government said he would seek support from both political camps in the USA. “In this time of war and uncertainty, it is important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together – today, tomorrow and always,” said Netanyahu. In view of the high number of civilian casualties and the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel is increasingly being criticized internationally. Netanyahu is accused of dragging out the war for his own political advantage.
He governs in a coalition with ultra-religious and right-wing extremist parties that reject concessions to Hamas and threaten to blow up the government. While relatives of the hostages held in Gaza who are traveling with him hope that Netanyahu will announce a ceasefire in his speech for their release, others are skeptical. Despite the goals achieved in Gaza, Netanyahu is continuing the war, wrote the brother of a hostage in the “Times of Israel” and accused him of abandoning his sister and family.
Relatives demand hostage agreement
He initially accepted Netanyahu’s invitation to travel with him, but later declined it, the man wrote. “As the trip drew closer, I repeatedly witnessed my prime minister prioritizing the security of his government over the security of the hostages.” Netanyahu repeatedly put forward new conditions for an agreement during the indirect negotiations in which the USA, Qatar and Egypt mediate between Israel and Hamas. He is demanding that Netanyahu announce a hostage deal in the speech.
At a meeting with relatives of the hostages who were travelling with him, Netanyahu expressed cautious optimism. Around 120 hostages are believed to still be in the sealed-off Gaza Strip, but many of them are probably no longer alive. Hamas had recently shown more flexibility in the talks on an agreement. However, Netanyahu made new demands – such as the need for Israeli troops to remain at strategic locations in Gaza for a longer period of time. This is why the talks have not made any progress recently.
An Israeli official told Axios that Netanyahu wanted to use his meeting with Biden to gain support for his demands. He wanted to discuss with Biden how to advance the common goals “in the critical months ahead,” Netanyahu said before leaving. This included the release of all hostages and the “victory over Hamas.” On the day of the meeting with Biden, an Israeli delegation is scheduled to resume talks in Qatar. Hopes for a deal had repeatedly been dashed.
