Netanyahu vows to achieve ‘total victory’ in Gaza, calls opponents ‘idiots’ in speech to Congress
Activist Layla Elabed, who helped found Michigan’s “uncommitted” campaign, called Biden’s decision to step out of the race “a small victory,” as the campaign remains firm in its calls for an arms embargo and permanent ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday to achieve “total victory” against Hamas and denounced American opponents of the war in Gaza as “idiots,” taking a combative stance in a visit the Biden administration has hoped will yield progress in negotiations to end the fighting.
Netanyahu used the high-profile address to a joint meeting of Congress to emphasize longstanding and close ties between the United States and Israel. Speaking for nearly an hour to frequent applause from U.S. lawmakers, as well as stony silence from many leading Democrats, Netanyahu said the U.S. has a shared interest in his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups.
“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose,” said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
But the Israeli leader soon pivoted to a darker tone as he derided those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the U.S., gesturing to demonstrations happening on the streets outside the Capitol. He called protesters “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.
The speech put in sharp relief the divisions in American society stirred by the war, with dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the address and thousands of protesters outside the Capitol condemning the war and the humanitarian crisis created by it.
In the run-up to the state’s late-February Presidential primary, the ‘Listen to Michigan’ Campaign stood in opposition to Biden’s support for Israel’s military action in Gaza.
Over 100,000 people in Michigan voted ‘uncommitted’ on their primary ballot. That effort spread to other states as the ‘Uncommitted National Movement’.
Now months after that primary, Biden has dropped out while the death toll in Gaza from Israel’s attacks in estimated at 39,000 Palestinians.
Activist and organizer Layla Elabed, who helped found both movements, called Biden’s decision to step out of the race “a small victory.”
“Joe Biden became a political liability for the Democratic Party because of his unwavering support for Israel’s assault on Gaza. He was losing key swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, while alienating his key voter base that includes young people, Arab American and Muslim American voters,” Elabed said.
With Vice President Kamala Harris the new presumptive nominee for Democrats, Elabed says that doesn’t change what the movement wants.
“Vice President Harris must unite the party by turning the page on Biden’s immoral and unpopular Gaza policy, and by supporting an end to weapons aid to Netanyahu, she can rebuild trust and cohesion within the party,” she said.
Listen: Anti-Biden ‘Uncommitted’ movement sees ‘small victory’ in president dropping out of race
Elabed’s sister, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan), was among the Democrats who attended Netanyahu’s speech on Wednesday. Tlaib — who was censured for her comments last year against the Israel-Hamas war — held up a small sign that said ‘war criminal’ on one side and ‘guilty of genocide’ on the other.
Elabed says Democrats need to do more than not show up to a speech.
“We need action. Supplying weapons to the Netanyahu regime undermines our Democratic Party’s claim to fight against MAGA authoritarianism,” Elabed said. “By funding the Israeli government under investigation for war crimes and violating international law, we undermine our party’s stance against far-right extremism.”
As for the movement’s plans for next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Elabed says to expect days of action.
“Part of our strategy is not asking any delegates on the inside to change their vote when it concerns the nominee,” Elabed said. “What we are asking the DNC and the Democratic Party to do is to adopt our demand for an arms embargo and permanent ceasefire.”
Netanyahu — making his first trip abroad since the war started — made no direct mention of months of U.S.-led mediation for a ceasefire and hostage-release. His remarks did not appear to close the door on a deal but showed no sign he was eager for one.
“Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home,” he said. “That’s what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less.”
Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer, Farnoush Amiri and Ashraf Khalil contributed to this report.
