'America and Israel must stand together': Netanyahu gives fiery speech to Congress

WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during an address to the United States Congress on Wednesday, assured that the war would be won if "America and Israel" stood together. 

"America and Israel must stand together," said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. "When we stand together something really great happens: we win, they lose."

The prime minister thanked President Joe Biden for his decades-long friendship and efforts to assist hostages and their families during the ongoing war in Israel. 

Netanyahu’s speech quickly took on a darker tone as he defended his country but also derided those protesting the war, gesturing to demonstrations happening as he spoke on the streets outside the U.S. Capitol, as "useful idiots" for Israel’s adversaries.

He drew shouts of applause from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who declined to stand and cheer.

Freed former hostages of Hamas and families of hostages listened in the House chamber as Netanyahu spoke. Lawmakers of both parties rose repeatedly to applaud the Israeli leader, while security escorted out protesters in the gallery who rose to display T-shirts with slogans demanding that leaders close a deal for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages.

A weeping Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, held a sign in the House chamber that says "war criminal."

Netanyahu accused the numerous protesters of the war in the United States of standing with the militants who he said killed babies in Hamas' attack on Oct. 7. "These protesters that stand with them, they should be ashamed of themselves," he said.

Why is Netanyahu visiting? 

It is Netanyahu’s fourth speech to Congress — more than any other world leader. During his address, his far-right governing partners will want to hear his resolve to continue the war and topple Hamas.

The trip is the first time Netanyahu has traveled abroad since the Israel-Hamas war broke out Oct. 7. It's also his first since the International Criminal Court said it was seeking his arrest for what it said were possible war crimes in Israel's offensive in Gaza. Israel denies wrongdoing, and the U.S. does not recognize the ICC.

Netanyahu faces complaints in Israel that he is avoiding closing a cease-fire and hostage-release deal to stay in power, a charge repeated Monday by a relative of one hostage.

The last time Netanyahu spoke to Congress in 2015 was at the invitation of the Republican Party. The trip drove Israeli-American politics deep into the partisan divide as Netanyahu railed against then-President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal.

Israel-Hamas war controversy 

Israel’s war has been intensely divisive in the U.S., spurring protests and resulting in arrests on college campuses, alienating some voters on both sides of the issue, and frustrating months of effort by Biden to bring the fighting to a close.

The Biden administration has stood staunchly beside Israel. But it has grown increasingly alarmed about the conduct of the Israeli military, the continued difficulties of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, especially after the short-lived U.S. military pier off the Gaza coast, as well as Israel’s lack of postwar plans and the harm to civilians in Gaza. Similar concerns will likely persist if Americans elect a new Democratic president.

Biden earlier this year froze the delivery of certain bombs over fears they would be used in Israel’s incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which at the time sheltered more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.

Biden has had to walk a fine line of his own. He has faced harsh criticism from progressive Democrats and many Arab Americans. Even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking elected U.S. Jewish official, lambasted Netanyahu in March for his handling of the war.

Some Democrats will likely demonstrate their anger toward Biden and Netanyahu by skipping Wednesday’s speech. Netanyahu is also likely to be hounded by pro-Palestinian activists during his trip.

Will Biden meet with Netanyahu? 

The White House released an updated schedule for Biden and the president plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday afternoon. Both Biden and the prime minister will meet with families of Americans who were held hostage by Hamas. 

It was also noted on Tuesday that the president tested negative for COVID-19 and that he would continue to perform his duties as commander in chief. 

Netanyahu is also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is currently seeking the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination following Biden’s withdrawal. 

Will Trump meet with Netanyahu? 

Former President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that he would be meeting with Netanyahu on July 26 at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. 

"Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday," Trump said in his post. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.