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Israel PM Netanyahu addresses joint session of Congress
Netanyahu before US Congress
Video Duration 03 minutes 19 seconds
03:19
By Brian Osgood and Ali Harb
Published On 24 Jul 2024
24 Jul 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has completed his latest speech to a joint session of the United States Congress, in his fourth appearance before the legislative body.
But several high-profile Democrats were noticeably absent, in protest of Israel’s war on Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it sparked.
The Democrats’ presumptive nominee for president, Kamala Harris, was also not present, though she would ordinarily preside over such a speech. Her campaign cited scheduling conflicts: She gave a speech in Indianapolis earlier on Wednesday.
Netanyahu was also greeted by anti-war protesters outside the Capitol, as he seeks to rally support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. But he blasted them from his podium, calling them “Iran’s useful idiots”.
The prime minister praised the US Congress as a “citadel of democracy” and described the war in Gaza as “a clash between barbarism and civilisation”.
6m ago (19:36 GMT)
Yair Lapid calls Netanyahu speech a ‘disgrace’
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has bashed Netanyahu’s address in a social media post, saying that the Israeli leader went through his speech without endorsing a deal to bring remaining captives home.
“Disgrace!” Lapid said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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22m ago (19:20 GMT)
Relatives of Israeli captives reportedly arrested for wearing shirts calling for deal to bring them home
Netanyahu praised the families of captives held in Gaza, a group that has consistently expressed frustration with Netanyahu back in Israel but figure prominently in his messaging overseas.
Several reporters who cover Israel reported that relatives of captives were arrested for wearing shirts calling for a deal that would bring the remaining captives home, an effort critics of Netanyahu have accused him of working to sabotage.
Republican House Leader Mike Johnson had previously warned that anyone who attempted to disrupt Netanyahu’s speech could face arrest.
39m ago (19:03 GMT)
Netanyahu wishes Trump well after assassination attempt
The Israeli leader praised Trump for his support for Israeli priorities during his time as president, such as moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that runs counter to international law.
“Like Americans, Israelis were relieved that President Trump emerged safe and sound from that dastardly attack on him, dastardly attack on American democracy. There is no room for political violence in democracies,” he said.
Critics in Israel have long held Netanyahu partly responsible for the assassination of former Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a right-wing extremist in the 1990s amid a tense atmosphere that critics say Netanyahu exploited for political gain and exacerbated with radical rhetoric.
44m ago (18:57 GMT)
Netanyahu says countries must join alliance to counter Iran
Netanyahu has said that a regional alliance must be forged to counter the influence of Iran, thanking Biden for his efforts to that effect and calling for an extension of the so-called Abraham Accords.
“I have a name for this new alliance. I think we should call it the Abraham Alliance,” he said, thanking Trump for his efforts promoting normalisation efforts between Israel and other countries in the region.
47m ago (18:54 GMT)
Netanyahu says ‘America has our back’
Following remarks about escalating attacks by the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, Netanyahu has thanked politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties for their consistent support.
“As we defend ourselves on all fronts, I know that America has our back. And I thank you for it, all sides of the aisle,” he said.
49m ago (18:52 GMT)
Netanyahu vows to ‘restore security’ along border with Lebanon
Netanyahu has turned his attention to Hezbollah, connecting the group to Iran’s influence throughout the region and warning that Israel could use military force if diplomacy fails to secure an agreement regarding tensions on the border with Lebanon.
The Israeli leader said that tens of thousands of Israelis who have evacuated their homes near the border with Lebanon amid exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have become “refugees in their own land,” and that Israel will do “whatever it must do” to restore security.
54m ago (18:48 GMT)
Netanyahu says Israel going ‘beyond what international law requires’ to avoid civilian casualties
Netanyahu, quoting a US military analyst, says that Israel has gone “beyond what international law requires” to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.
Numerous rights groups have alleged that Israel is flaunting international law and targeting civilians in Gaza, where it has systematically cut off supplies of food and water, displaced more than 90 percent of the population and wiped out entire neighbourhoods.
Media outlets have reported that Israeli forces in Gaza see large swaths of the Strip as “free fire zones”, and a US doctor who volunteered in Gaza recently accused Israeli snipers of targeting Palestinian children.
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57m ago (18:45 GMT)
Netanyahu says majority of Americans support Israeli actions, but polling says otherwise
Netanyahu says that the majority of people in the US continue to support Israel and have not fallen for “Hamas’s lies”.
“The vast majority of Americans have not fallen for this Hamas propaganda. They continue to support Israel,” he said.
But a recent Gallup poll found that 48 percent of people in the US disapprove of Israel’s actions in Gaza, compared with 42 percent who are supportive.
A May poll by Data for Progress also found that about 70 percent of all voters support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which Netanyahu has firmly rejected.
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1h ago (18:38 GMT)
Netanyahu slams college protesters and administrators
Netanyahu has leaned into attacks on student protesters who demonstrated against Israel’s war in Gaza.
He also blasted college administrators who resisted calls to crack down on the protests and mocked LGBTQ activists who support Palestinian rights by comparing them to chickens who support the restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken.
“The outrageous slanders that paint Israel as racist and genocidal are meant to delegitimise Israel, to demonise the Jewish state, and to demonise Jews everywhere. And no wonder, no wonder we witnessed an appalling rise of anti-Semitism in America and around the world,” he said.
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1h ago (18:34 GMT)
Rashida Tlaib holds a sign reading ‘war criminal’
Representative Rashida Tlaib can be seen wearing a keffiyeh and holding aloft a sign that says “war criminal” as Netanyahu speaks.
Rashida Tlaib
Representative Rashida Tlaib arrives before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, DC on July 24 [Julia Nikhinson/AP Photo]
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1h ago (18:31 GMT)
Netanyahu says anti-war protesters should be ‘ashamed’
Netanyahu, for whom ICC prosecutors are currently seeking an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, has said that pro-Palestine protesters “stand with evil”.
“They stand with Hamas, they stand with rapists and murderers,” he said, adding that they should be “ashamed”.
1h ago (18:29 GMT)
Capitol police use pepper spray against protesters as Netanyahu praises Israeli soldiers
As Netanyahu praises Israeli military members as “Lions of Judah”, police have deployed pepper spray against protesters.
The Associated Press reported that thousands of protesters chanting, “Free, free Palestine” have approached the Capitol.
“Part of the crowd has started to become violent at First Street and Constitution Avenue, NW,” the Capitol Police said in a social media post. “The crowd failed to obey our order to move back from our police line. We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line.”
1h ago (18:25 GMT)
Media: Several relatives of captives in Gaza walk out of Netanyahu speech
Jacob Magid, a correspondent with The Times of Israel, has reported that several relatives of captives held in Gaza have walked out of Netanyahu’s speech.
“Several relatives of the hostages being held in Gaza have walked out of Netanyahu’s address to Congress,” he said in a social media post.
“The PM goes on to pledge not to rest until the hostages are home, leading the vast majority in the room to stand and applaud save for roughly a dozen or so hostage families.”
1h ago (18:23 GMT)
Netanyahu thanks Biden for ‘heartfelt support”
The Israeli leader praised Biden for his “heartfelt support” for Israel.
“After the savage attack on October 7, he rightly called Hamas ‘sheer evil’,” he said, playing up their more than 40-year relationship. “He dispatched two aircraft carriers to the Middle East to deter a wider war, and he came to Israel to stand with us in our darkest hour, a visit that will never be forgotten.”
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1h ago (18:20 GMT)
‘Enough is enough’: Protester denounces Netanyahu visit
Ali Harb
Reporting from the US Capitol in Washington, DC
Adam Abusalah, an Arab-American activist from Dearborn, Michigan, says it is a “shame” that Netanyahu was invited to speak to Congress.
“It’s a disgrace that members from both parties have invited him to speak here. It’s a disgrace that Kamala Harris, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, will meet with him,” Abusalah told Al Jazeera at an anti-Netanyahu protest near the Capitol.
“We are here to say enough is enough. As Americans, we will not stand for that.”
Protesters march down the street outside the US Capitol.
Protesters gather outside the US Capitol to protest against Netanyahu’s speech [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
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1h ago (18:18 GMT)
Netanyahu praises captives
Netanyahu has praised captives and relatives of those held in Gaza, even while he faces accusations at home of working to sabotage a deal that would secure the release of those who remain in Gaza in exchange for an end to the war.
“I will not rest until all their loved ones are home, all of them,” he said.
Noa Argamani, one of the captives recently rescued, was among Netanyah’s guests in Congress on Wednesday.
1h ago (18:15 GMT)
Netanyahu repeats false claims about some October 7 atrocities
Netanyahu has repeated dubious claims about acts by Hamas on October 7, stating that men were beheaded and babies burned alive.
Investigations have found that, while Hamas committed atrocities against civilians on October 7, little evidence has emerged to substantiate some of the most gruesome stories pushed by Israeli leaders such as Netanyahu.
1h ago (18:12 GMT)
Netanyahu says war in Gaza war between ‘barbarism and civilisation’
“This is not a clash of civilisations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilisation,” said Netanyahu.
“It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life. For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together. Because when we stand together, something very simple happens: We win, they lose.”
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1h ago (18:10 GMT)
Netanyahu thanks Congress for invitation to speak
Netanyahu has thanked US congressional leadership for inviting him to speak.
“Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me the profound honour of addressing this great citadel of democracy for the fourth time,” he said.
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1h ago (18:10 GMT)
Representative Tlaib poses with man who lost more than 150 family members in Gaza
Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress and an outspoke advocate of Palestinian rights, has posted a photo of her meeting with a man who lost more than 150 relatives in Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Joining me in the chamber today is Hani Almadhoun, who has lost over 150 members of his extended family in Netanyahu’s genocide,” Tlaib said in a social media post. “After witnessing his sister forced to eat animal feed, he and his family were determined to start a soup kitchen to feed their starving neighbors.”
Numerous rights groups have alleged that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.
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1h ago (18:08 GMT)
House member shows shirt calling for ceasefire
One House member can be seeing displaying a shirt that reads, “Seal the deal now.”
Netanyahu is wearing a pin in honour of the remaining captives held in Gaza, but he has been criticised at home for attempting to undermine a deal that could bring the war to an end in exchange for the release of the captives.
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1h ago (18:06 GMT)
Netanyahu arrives
Netanyahu has entered the chamber to loud applause.
The Israeli leader shook hands as he made his way to the front of the chamber, while some members appeared to boo in the background.
1h ago (18:02 GMT)
Elon Musk attending as guest of Netanyahu: report
Media reports have stated that the far-right tech billionaire Elon Musk is attending today’s speech as a guest of Netanyahu.
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1h ago (18:00 GMT)
Labour unions call for end to US weapons shipments to Israel
A group of seven major US labour unions penned a letter to President Biden on Tuesday, calling for an immediate ceasefire to end Israel’s assault in Gaza.
The letter also advocated for stopping weapons shipments to Israel, in order to achieve peace. It was signed by unions including the United Auto Workers, the United Electrical Workers and the American Postal Workers Union.
“We believe that immediately cutting US military aid to the Israeli government is necessary to bring about a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” the letter reads.
“Recent reports only underscore the urgency of our demands. Large numbers of Palestinian civilians, many of them children, continue to be killed, reportedly often with US-manufactured bombs.”
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1h ago (17:58 GMT)
Sara Netanyahu mingles with crowd
Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara is mingling with members of Congress before her husband gives his remarks.
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1h ago (17:54 GMT)
‘The joint meeting will come to order’
House Speaker Mike Johnson has struck the gavel to call the joint session to Congress to order, pausing chatter in the chamber.
Netanyahu is set to speak within minutes.
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1h ago (17:54 GMT)
Netanyahu says he will ‘speak the word of Israel’
Netanyahu has said that he is looking forward to his address to Congress in a social media post.
“Excited for my fourth speech to the US Congress,” Netanyahu said in a social media post, sharing a photo side by side with his wife Sara. “Tonight at 21:00 I will speak the word of Israel.”
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1h ago (17:50 GMT)
How much aid does the US supply to Israel?
In 1948, the United States became the first country to recognise Israel’s formation — and ever since, the two have been firm allies.
Israel has since received more military aid from the US than any other country since World War II.
Under a 2016 memorandum of understanding (MOU), the US committed to continuing that military support for another 10 years. Through 2028, the US will provide at least $3.8bn in military aid per year.
Since Israel’s war in Gaza erupted, the US has also provided further weapons and support.
In April, US President Joe Biden signed an aid package that designated an additional $15bn in military aid for Israel, including approximately $5bn for defence systems like the Iron Dome.
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1h ago (17:43 GMT)
‘We don’t want to see the horrific suffering:’ US State Dept
With Netanyahu scheduled to speak before the US Congress within the hour, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller delivered a call for peace in Gaza.
“We don’t want to see the horrific suffering that’s happening in Gaza go on another single day. We want a ceasefire now. We want it as soon as possible,” Miller said.
He went on to acknowledge “Israel’s legitimate security needs” but said the global community has an obligation to “ensure that Palestinian civilians are protected and get the food and water they need”.
Miller also added, “I do not know what the prime minister will say in his speech.”
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2h ago (17:40 GMT)
Possibility of wider regional war looms over speech
As Netanyahu seeks to shore up US support for Israel’s war in Gaza, the possibility of a wider regional war continues to be a source of international concern.
Tensions between Israel and the armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon remain high, and UN Lebanon coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaer warned today that an escalation to full-scale war would “engulf the entire region”.
The Biden administration has said that it is working to prevent the fighting from spreading — but it has said it will give Israel full US backing in the event of a wider war.
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2h ago (17:36 GMT)
US State Department criticises Israel’s ‘terror’ label for UNRWA
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller defended the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at a news briefing on Wednesday.
Miller was asked about the Israeli parliament’s recent decision to give preliminary approval to a measure that would label UNRWA a “terrorist” organisation.
“First, UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation, and we urge the Israeli government and the Knesset to halt the movement of this legislation,” Miller responded. “We have been clear about the important role that UNRWA plays in delivering humanitarian assistance and other critical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and throughout the region.”
Some Israeli officials have accused the relief agency of ties to the Palestinian group Hamas — and the US itself suspended aid to UNRWA pending a United Nations investigation into the allegations.
But independent reviews have found no evidence to substantiate the allegations that UNRWA employees were involved with Hamas, and Miller said that the US continues to offer support to the agency — albeit through roundabout means, like third parties.
That’s because the US Congress has suspended aid to UNRWA through March 2025.
“The attacks that the Israeli government has levelled on UNRWA are incredibly unhelpful,” Miller added.
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to speak before the US Congress shortly.
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2h ago (17:30 GMT)
Photos: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in Washington, DC
With the death toll ever increasing in Gaza, protesters took to the streets of Washington, DC, to show their displeasure both with Israel’s military offensive — and US support for it.
Chants of “Free, free, free Palestine” broke out in front of the US Capitol, as the protesters denounced an impending address from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Protesters gather as Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses Congress in Washington
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold signs calling to ‘stop the Gaza genocide’ in Washington, DC [Umit Bektas/Reuters]
Protesters gather as Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses Congress in Washington
Demonstrators carry a representation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu down the streets in front of the US Congress on July 24 [Nathan Howard/Reuters]
Protesters gather as Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses Congress in Washington
A stage is erected in front of Congress in protest of Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech on July 24, with a banner calling to ‘free Palestine’ [Nathan Howard/Reuters]
Protesters gather as Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses Congress in Washington
Many of the protesters denounced Benjamin Netanyahu’s participation in alleged war crimes in Gaza [Umit Bektas/Reuters]
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2h ago (17:24 GMT)
Gaza goes unmentioned in Harris’s remarks in Indianapolis
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris spoke at a campaign stop in Indianapolis on Wednesday, leaving her unable to attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress.
In her speech, Harris focused on themes such as abortion rights, economic equality and social justice but largely avoided commenting on US support for Israel’s war in Gaza, which antiwar groups have insisted must come to an end.
Republicans have hit out at Harris for missing Netanyahu’s address.
The vice president has yet to indicate whether she would take a stronger stance towards Israel than President Joe Biden and use US leverage to bring the war in Gaza to an end.
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2h ago (17:20 GMT)
Analysis
Netanyahu speech comes amid growing domestic and international pressure
Netanyahu’s remarks to Congress come as he is facing protests at home as well as abroad, said Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut.
“You have the families of Israeli captives who are furious that there still hasn’t been a deal to release their loved ones, the war is entering its 10th month, and even the army says there aren’t any real, significant accomplishments of this war,” she said.
“But in the United States, what we’re expecting is for him to essentially thank the Americans for their support and say that the support is invaluable and continuously needed throughout the remainder of the war.”
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2h ago (17:19 GMT)
‘Our enemies will not breach our walls today:’ Netanyahu
Netanyahu offered a few brief remarks in the halls of the US Capitol before his speech before a joint session of Congress later today.
Appearing at a podium next to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Israeli prime minister offered warm words to the congressional leaders who invited him to address the legislature.
“Speaker Johnson, you have shown great leadership, along with the leaders of the Senate and the minority leader in the House,” Netanyahu said.
“The Congress of the United States speaks for the American people, and the American people speak for the entire world. I very much value this opportunity to address this august forum.”
Netanyahu’s speech, however, was not welcomed by all members of the US Congress, some of whom decided to boycott the appearance.
Both Johnson and Netanyahu noted that the speech fell after the Seventeenth of Tammuz, a day in the Jewish holy calendar commemorating when the Roman army breached Jerusalem’s walls two thousand years ago.
“Our enemies will not breach our walls today,” Netanyahu said.
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2h ago (17:10 GMT)
US voters have largely unfavourable view of Netanyahu
Polling shows that US voters, especially those affiliated with the Democratic Party, have a generally poor view of Netanyahu.
An April poll by the Pew Research Center found that 53 percent of people in the US have little or no confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing in world affairs.
That figure jumps to 71 percent among voters who lean Democrat and drops to 34 percent for those who lean Republican.
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2h ago (17:07 GMT)
Speaker Johnson and Netanyahu hold news conference before speech
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have just appeared in the halls of the Capitol for a short news conference, ahead of the Israeli leader’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
Johnson opened the briefing by reaffirming support for Israel’s war in Gaza and pledging to help Israelis “live freely and securely in their ancestral homeland”.
“Our dear ally Israel is in an existential fight for its very existence, and that fight extends to every one of its borders,” Johnson said.
“Today, the Israeli people are working to defeat Hamas, following, of course, the horrific massacre on October 7th. They’re having to ward off Hezbollah in the north. They’re having to respond Houthi attacks in Tel Aviv. And they fended off a historic watershed direct attack from Iran itself.”
He later added, “The most powerful nation in the modern world is standing with our Jewish friends and the Israeli government.”
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2h ago (17:00 GMT)
House leader warns protesters: ‘We’re going to arrest people’
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that members of Congress who get “out of hand” while Netanyahu is speaking could be arrested.
His remarks come as protests are expected both in and out of the Capitol, particularly in response to the military offensive Netanyahu’s government has led in Gaza.
“There are a number of Democrats in the House who have said they’re going to boycott that event. Some others may protest,” Johnson told attendees of an event organised by the Republican Jewish Coalition last week.
He added that extra security will be present: “We’re going to arrest people if we have to do it.”
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2h ago (16:50 GMT)
‘We will fight for freedom:’ Protester
Ali Harb
Ali Harb
Reporting from the US Capitol in Washington, DC
Blocks away from the US Capitol, on Massachusetts Avenue, a masked woman sits on a bench by herself, waving a Palestinian flag.
“We will fight for freedom wherever it’s being denied all over the world. We connect with the Palestinians because we are freedom fighters here in America,” she told Al Jazeera.
“Black people have been fighting for our freedom since we landed on these shores. We are still fighting for our freedom, so we connect with the Palestinians.”
The protester declined to share her name, noting that the mask is to protect her identity. But she said she is a native of Washington, DC.
A woman sits on a bench on a street in Washington DC.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag at a Massachusetts Avenue bus stop in Washington, DC [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
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3h ago (16:40 GMT)
Watchdog group finds Gaza Health Ministry initial casualty figures ‘largely reliable’
Airwars, a London-based watchdog group that monitors casualties from air strikes in several conflict zones, has released a report documenting the deaths of 3,000 civilians in Gaza during the first weeks of the war.
The group, which relies on open-source analysis, compared the names of independently identified victims with those listed by the Gaza Health Ministry. It said that the findings of the report “show the initial Palestinian Ministry of Health death toll to be largely reliable”.
Some US politicians, including President Joe Biden, have expressed scepticism over the Gaza Health Ministry’s statistics.
In October 2023, for instance, Biden said: “I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging a war.”
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3h ago (16:30 GMT)
Analysis
Former Israeli diplomat: Netanyahu a familiar face for many in the US
Former Israeli diplomat Alon Liel told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu benefits from being a recognisable figure in the US.
That comes, in part, from his decades of experience travelling to the country to boost support for Israel, Liel explained.
“He grew up in America, and he has always had wide support among the religious supporters of the Republican Party. He speaks perfect English. He is one of the most known politicians in the United States, face-wise and name-wise, so he is also — for the Americans — quite a show,” Liel said.
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3h ago (16:20 GMT)
Where is Kamala Harris?
Ever since Biden bowed out of the presidential race on Sunday, the spotlight has been firmly on his vice president and his likely successor on the Democratic ticket.
But where is Harris as Netanyahu prepares to speak before Congress?
In US politics, the vice president is the presiding officer of the Senate and would typically oversee such an event. But Harris will not be attending Netanyahu’s speech.
While some have speculated that Harris may be distancing herself from Biden’s full-throated support for Israel’s war on Gaza, her campaign team said she simply had a scheduling conflict.
She is expected to make a campaign stop in Indiana today, a day after holding her first rally as a presidential candidate in Wisconsin. She is still expected to meet Netanyahu during his trip to the US.
Republicans, however, have slammed Harris’s decision not to attend Netanyahu’s speech, charging that it undermines US support for Israel.
“I’m not surprised that some of the more radical members of the Democratic conference may boycott, but it’s shameful when their top leadership is so willing to abandon a key ally,” Republican Senator John Cornyn said.
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3h ago (16:10 GMT)
How have Democratic lawmakers reacted to Netanyahu’s speech?
Several high-profile members of Congress — including many from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party — have declined to attend Netanyahu’s speech.
In the lead-up to the prime minister’s address, several have released strongly worded statements denouncing Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Netanyahu is a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” Palestinian-American Representative Rashida Tlaib said in a social media post. “It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court.”
One of the most notable absences will be Nancy Pelosi, a former speaker of the House of Representatives. She is considered a powerful and firmly pro-Israel lawmaker.
Pelosi, however, has been openly critical of Netanyahu, saying in April that he “should resign”. She has also said it was “wrong” for him to be invited to speak.
A spokesperson for Pelosi said this morning that she would not attend the address, but would instead meet with Israelis affected by the October 7 attacks.
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3h ago (16:00 GMT)
Netanyahu embattled at home and abroad
With outrage continuing to boil over Israel’s war in Gaza, Netanyahu faces peril both at home and abroad.
In May, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader for alleged war crimes.
A three-member panel of judges will rule whether to issue the arrest warrant. But Netanyahu denounced the effort as anti-Semitic.
Netanyahu also faces pressure in Israel. Last month, the centrist Benny Gantz withdrew from his war cabinet, in a sign of growing political fractures as the war in Gaza stretches on.
Gantz denounced the prime minister for using the war to ensure his own “political survival”. Netanyahu has struggled with low approval ratings at home, with some officials calling for early elections.
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3h ago (15:50 GMT)
Protests erupt even before Netanyahu’s arrival
Even before Netanyahu arrived at the US Capitol, protesters were out in force to demonstrate against his appearance.
On Tuesday, a flash-mob-style demonstration erupted under the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building, part of the US Capitol complex.
Protesters gathered in a circle and removed their outerwear to reveal red T-shirts with messages like, “Jews say stop arming Israel.” Law enforcement quickly arrested the protesters, leading them away.
Read more about the surprise protest in the Cannon Building here.
Protesters wear red shirts that read, "Not in our name," and hold up banners that say, "Stop Arming Israel."
Progressive Jewish activists call for an arms embargo on Israel during a protest at the Cannon House Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 23 [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
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3h ago (15:45 GMT)
‘No right to be here:’ Protesters arrive from New Jersey
Ali Harb
Ali Harb
Reporting from the US Capitol in Washington, DC
A bus has arrived at the US Capitol from New Jersey, carrying dozens of protesters.
Karim, a protester who wished to be identified by his first name only, expressed bewilderment as to why congressional leaders invited Netanyahu to speak
“He has no right to be here,” Karim told Al Jazeera. “We don’t support criminals of war. We don’t support genocidal maniacs.”
Protesters disembark from a bus near the US Capitol.
Protesters from New Jersey disembark from a bus near the US Capitol before Netanyahu’s speech [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
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4h ago (15:40 GMT)
The Trump-Netanyahu relationship
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday as part of his visit to the US. Beyond their alignment on policy, the two right-wing leaders have displayed a strong personal rapport for years.
The Israeli prime minister would often heap praise on Trump, describing him as the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House.
Trump often reciprocated the compliments. In 2020, the then-president presented Netanyahu with a ceremonial gold key to the White House.
In Israel, Netanyahu pushed to exploit that strong relationship for domestic political gains. In 2019, his Likud party used a photo of the prime minister shaking hands with Trump in campaign posters.
While the American support for Israel has long transcended partisan politics, the Trump-Netanyahu relationship aligned Washington further with the Israeli government’s political priorities.
That honeymoon appeared to come to an end when Trump lost the US presidential election in November 2020.
Although Trump challenged the results, falsely claiming voter fraud, Netanyahu rushed to congratulate his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, for his victory.
In a 2021 interview, Trump went public with his disappointment with Netanyahu and accused the Israeli prime minister of disloyalty. “F*** him,” Trump said of Netanyahu.
Trump took another dig at Netanyahu after the October 7 attacks, decrying what he called intelligence “failures” by the Israeli government.
It appears that Netanyahu is now trying to repair the relationship.
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4h ago (15:35 GMT)
Analysis
Heavy security before Netanyahu speech: correspondent
Ali Harb
Ali Harb
Reporting from the US Capitol in Washington, DC
Access to the Capitol is completely blocked off to unauthorised persons. Law enforcement agents have blocked off traffic about two blocks away from the Capitol, turning away pedestrians and vehicles, telling them that they cannot go through.
Earlier this week, a barricade was erected all around the Capitol campus itself. But this morning, it appears this perimeter has been enlarged.
US Congress behind a barricade
The US Capitol is seen behind a security fence on July 23, the day before Netanyahu’s speech [Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo]
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4h ago (15:30 GMT)
Dozens of Democrats are skipping Netanyahu’s speech
At least nine senators will join dozens of House members in boycotting today’s address.
While some progressives have cited Israeli atrocities in Gaza as the reason behind their decisions, others decried Netanyahu’s embattled leadership in Israel and highlighted what they described as the “partisan” nature of his visit to Washington, DC.
Among the lawmakers who will be absent are New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders and Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray.
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4h ago (15:20 GMT)
Netanyahu visits US amid political turmoil
It has been a tumultuous time in US politics, as a heated election year unfolds against the backdrop of Netanyahu’s speech.
In the past two weeks alone, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally. A week later, his Democratic rival — and incumbent president — Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign amid concerns over his age and fitness for office.
Now, the Democrats are on course to select a new candidate to head their presidential ticket, and Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the likely nominee.
Foreign policy towards Israel is deeply intertwined with domestic politics in the US. So Netanyahu — who will meet with Biden, Harris and Trump separately — will have to manoeuvre the country’s election-year dynamics.
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4h ago (15:10 GMT)
What is a joint session of Congress?
You may hear frequently today that Netanyahu is addressing a joint session of Congress. But what is a joint session?
It simply means that the gathering will be attended by members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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4h ago (15:03 GMT)
This will be Netanyahu’s fourth speech to Congress
With today’s address, the Israeli prime minister will overtake Winston Churchill, the famed United Kingdom prime minister who led his country to victory in World War II, as the foreign leader who has delivered the most speeches to a joint session of the US Congress.
Netanyahu spoke previously in Congress in 1996, 2011 and 2015.
The last speech prompted a major controversy that rocked US politics.
Early in 2015, then-Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arranged the invitation for Netanyahu to speak at the Capitol with Israeli diplomats — without informing the White House.
The Israeli prime minister spoke largely in opposition to then-President Barack Obama’s diplomacy with Iran.
Many Democrats saw the address and the way it came about as an effort to undermine and humiliate Obama.
Despite that episode, Obama would later sign a memorandum of understanding with Netanyahu granting Israel $38bn in US military aid over 10 years.
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4h ago (15:01 GMT)
A bipartisan invitation
Today’s speech by Netanyahu has been months in the works.
On May 31, four of the top leaders in the US Congress issued a formal invitation, calling on Netanyahu to speak before a joint session of the legislature.
They were two Republicans – House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – as well as two Democrats – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
In their invitation letter, they said the attacks on southern Israel on October 7 “shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence”.
They underscored US support for Israel’s subsequent war on the Gaza Strip. “We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability,” the four lawmakers wrote.
They also cited the need to unite with Israel to confront “existential challenges” to international peace, including “the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China”.
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