Outside the U.S. Capitol, Netanyahu was burned in effigy, and anti-Israel protesters burned flags and defaced American symbols. Eventually they tried to breach the Capitol. Capitol Police used pepper spray and other defensive measures against the rioters. Outside historic Union Station, protesters removed the American flag and raised a Palestinian flag.
Inside the Capitol, Netanyahu graphically reminded lawmakers in attendance of the horrors committed against his country by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Absent from the audience were several members of the Democratic Party – including presumptive presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who instead spoke to a black women’s sorority in Indianapolis.
The prime minister also described the efforts made by Israel Defense Forces to limit civilian casualties as it works to eliminate Hamas, something Netanyahu said the IDF has done with unparalleled success for urban warfare.
Netanyahu spoke with clarity and confidence and did not waver in his resolve to root Hamas out of his country.
“He spoke for over 90% of Israelis. The message he gave is something that unifies the Israeli people, the way he spoke about the atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 and the incredible heroism of our fighters who have fought this war on the ground since then,” Caroline Glick, senior contributing editor for the Jewish News Syndicate, said on Washington Watch Wednesday.
“It was powerful. It was pitch-perfect. It was important because we’ve been libeled. We’ve been criminalized and demonized in the media, in academia and on the streets like you saw today in Washington,” Glick told show host Tony Perkins.
Gary Bauer has served on the board of Christians United for Israel. He praises the Israeli leader for calling out the protestors.
"The prime minister minced no words. He made it absolutely clear: 99% of these people demonstrating – whether it's on university campuses or in various places around Washington, DC – in a conflict between Israel and terrorist groups have taken the side of the terrorist groups. That is a sobering thing to ponder," he described to AFN. "But he said it, he said it clearly, and God bless him for doing so."
Those who did attend showed strong support
Netanyahu’s speech was frequently interrupted with applause and standing ovations. But not by Rep. Rashida Talib (D-Michigan,) who sat silently holding a sign that said “war criminal.”
Roughly 100 House Democrats and 28 Senate Democrats were present for Netanyahu’s speech, Fox News reported.
“There’s been an erosion of support among the so-called progressive Democrats. In 44 years as a member of Congress, I never thought for a moment such an erosion would occur, but it’s very real and very dangerous because Israel is facing an existential threat from Iran and its proxies,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) told Perkins.
Bauer also blasted dozens of Democrats for refusing to attend the historic address.
"It is very embarrassing to me as an American that the vice president of the United States, who wants to be the next president of the United States, went to a sorority convention rather than be at this historic speech," says Bauer. "And it was beyond disgusting that dozens of liberal Democrats boycotted the speech while dozens of others of that party sat on their hands."
Israel, U.S. in the same boat
Netanyahu made it clear, and “Iran’s useful idiots” backed him up: America faces the same threat.
“He brilliantly made the case and reminded everybody that Iran hates America. They routinely chant 'Death to America,’” Smith said, recalling hostages held by Iran during Jimmy Carter’s administration. Smith was early in his congressional career then.
“There’s been a long, long hostility and threat,” he said. Chants of death to Israel “are always followed immediately by death to America. It’s a poisoned, cruel perspective that these radical Islamists have toward America.”
Smith said America and Iran are polar opposites in governing philosophy, and that America’s acceptance of other cultures is a problem for the mullahs.
“We are an amazing country of all faiths, religions and people of every color. There’s a lot of strength here. [But] they want to radicalize the world, and they think we’re the greatest impediment to that,” he said.
Netanyahu pushes ahead in the war and does so with the support of the Israeli people, Glick said. But there’s an emotional toll that comes with feeling that all the world is against you, she said, singling out the International Criminal Court and its indictments of Netanyahu and other leadership.
Netanyahu’s speech was 55 minutes in length and was interrupted by standing ovations 53 times by some counts. For Israelis watching from their country, that was a huge lift, Glick said.
“It was a testament to the depth of the friendship between the American and Israeli people. I thought it wasn't that they were only applauding him. They were applauding the state of Israel, the people of Israel … and I think the people of Israel felt that as well,” she added.
Netanyahu: Stronger Israel saves American lives
It wasn’t only Americans and Israelis who noted that applause. The Iranians were watching too, Glick said.
“It was important when [Netanyahu] said ‘the stronger Israel is, the less the United States is going to have boots on the ground.’ The image of the American people standing with Israel when he’s making this statement is going to be taken very seriously in Tehran,” Glick said. “They have to understand that Israel does not stand alone.”
