Amid chaos of US politics, Netanyahu finally gets attention he craves in Washington

During his third day in Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu was finally able to grab the spotlight he had been seeking in the nation's capital.

Members of the Republican party and their supporters were very vocal and excited as the joint session began, while Democratic lawmakers who did not participate in the boycott watched quietly. The Israeli prime minister delivered a 56-minute speech filled with applause from the Republican side, disappointing hopes for a quick resolution to the conflict in Gaza. He also criticized anti-war protests and promised to continue fighting until achieving "total victory".

Netanyahu had been feeling overlooked at the Watergate hotel for two days, as all attention was on the excitement of the US political cycle. Joe Biden had exited the presidential race due to rumors about his cognitive decline, throwing his support behind Kamala Harris and energizing the Democratic party. Donald Trump had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt just 11 days earlier, leading to dramatic comparisons. America was experiencing rapid changes, leaving little space for Netanyahu to make his voice heard on cable TV.

However, despite the House speaker, Mike Johnson, a Republican, scheduling Netanyahu to speak on July 24, nothing would stop Israel's prime minister from coming to Washington to address Congress for the fourth time, even with all the chaos in US politics and international legal issues. Netanyahu was determined to make his case, even surpassing Winston Churchill in the number of times he has spoken before Congress.

When Netanyahu had the opportunity, he delivered a passionate speech lacking in specific information. He did not provide any details on when and how Israel's conflict in Gaza would conclude or how the 120 hostages taken by Hamas would be rescued and reunited with their families.

There was a mention of a civilian government led by Palestinians who do not want to destroy Israel after achieving a complete victory, a plan for Gaza that included making the area peaceful and free of extremism. But Netanyahu did not explain how this would happen, other than continuing with the current strategy, which has already resulted in approximately 39,000 Palestinian deaths in addition to the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas on 7 October.

This speech did not announce an end to fighting, which Netanyahu never mentioned, even though there were discussions with Hamas and the Biden administration said a plan had been agreed upon. Following the speech, a top official admitted that there were still important issues that needed to be worked out before any agreement could be put into action.

In the area around the Capitol building, law enforcement officers used tear gas and pepper spray to control the chaos as protests turned into chaotic clashes. Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators from various groups ended up fighting each other in a state of confusion.

Even though there were acts of violence, supporters of Palestine and Israel expressed their anger towards the Israeli leader and a conflict that had resulted in the deaths of thousands without any signs of a peaceful solution.

Jessica Pliska, a protester supporting Palestine, held up a sign with the nickname "Satanyahu" for Netanyahu. She drove all the way from Michigan, a journey of 11 hours, to protest his speech. "I am upset with our government. It's terrible that someone accused of committing war crimes is welcomed to speak in our Congress."

"I believe it's great that people are engaging in a boycott," she expressed. "It demonstrates a strong moral obligation among the public to speak out and protest, both on the streets and in government."

A few streets over, Brad Young, who holds citizenship in both the US and Israel and hails from North Carolina, expressed his strong support for Israel's right to exist. However, he believes that the current government is corrupt and not working in the best interests of the country or the region. Young finds it unacceptable that Prime Minister Netanyahu is addressing Congress instead of focusing on resolving the situation and bringing home the hostages.

Once he stepped up to the podium on Thursday, Netanyahu dove headfirst into the contentious cultural issues that are currently splitting the US as it approaches the presidential election. It often seems as though American politics are now global politics, especially when foreign leaders seek approval from Donald Trump and echo his political views leading up to the election.

Netanyahu spent his time criticizing woke culture and the support for the Palestinian protest movement, aligning himself with the current views of the Republican Party. He referred to protesters as "Iran's useful idiots" and mocked those advocating for Gaza by suggesting they should instead identify as "chickens for KFC." The Israeli prime minister also mentioned the North Carolina fraternity members who surrounded the US flag during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Chapel Hill UNC.

The crowd in the hall cheered "USA! USA! USA!" as Netanyahu received support. He seemed comfortable in the lively atmosphere, similar to a football game or political speech. However, his speech in Congress did not indicate that the war was near its conclusion.