Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to deliver a speech to the U.S. Congress today, Wednesday, in an attempt to pressure the United States amid ongoing tensions between the two allies following more than nine months of conflict in Gaza.
A Politically Turbulent U.S.
Netanyahu's visit to Washington comes at a time of significant political upheaval in the United States. This turmoil began with the attempted assassination of Republican candidate Donald Trump, followed by Democratic President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for the November election.
Netanyahu has previously intervened in U.S. politics; in 2015, he relied on Congress to try to force President Barack Obama to reject the nuclear deal with Iran. This will be Netanyahu's fourth address to Congress, a record for a foreign leader, typically reserved for those making state visits.
Anticipated Meetings
Netanyahu is scheduled to address both houses of Congress at 6 p.m. GMT. A White House official told Al Jazeera that President Joe Biden is expected to meet Netanyahu on Thursday, while Vice President Kamala Harris will hold a separate meeting with him. Harris is expected to miss Netanyahu's congressional speech due to time constraints, despite being the protocol's presiding officer.
Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed his eagerness to meet Netanyahu on Friday, aiming to achieve peace in the Middle East. The meeting was postponed at Netanyahu's request.
Opposition Reactions
Netanyahu's visit has sparked significant chaos in Washington's streets, with demonstrations opposing his visit and condemning the war on Gaza. Democratic lawmakers have also voiced strong objections to Netanyahu's congressional address, criticizing his policies.
Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler stated that Netanyahu jeopardizes Israel's security, the lives of hostages, regional stability, and democratic norms, arguing that his speech is part of Republican efforts to politicize U.S.-Israel relations for partisan gains.
Tense Meeting with Hostages' Families
During Netanyahu's meeting with the families of American hostages, tensions ran high. Netanyahu informed the families that his policy is to increase pressure and not yield to Hamas's demands. He emphasized that Israel should remain in the Philadelphia corridor after the first phase of the exchange deal to pressure Hamas into implementing the second phase.
Defending Israeli Policies
Netanyahu is expected to use his congressional platform to defend his continuous refusal to engage in a prisoner exchange deal with the resistance, advocating for increased military pressure and the continuation of the war to achieve what he describes as "war objectives." He will also highlight the threat posed by Iran to Israel, seeking U.S. support to end the conflict.
Netanyahu's visit comes at a highly sensitive time, not only for U.S.-Israeli relations but also for the internal political landscape in the United States, adding another layer of complexity to this international event.
-min.png)