Israeli PM urges global alliance against Iran

Washington, United States – AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Gaza cease-fire demonstrators Wednesday and called for a global alliance against the Iranian regime he accuses of funding them, as he addressed a US Congress divided by the war.

Washington has become increasingly alarmed by the humanitarian toll of Israel’s nine-month war on Gaza, and protests in Israel and the United States have been ratcheting up pressure on Netanyahu.

The prime minister hit back at his critics in a speech at the US Capitol, accusing Tehran of funding and promoting US-based anti-Israel protest — and called Gaza peace activists “Iran’s useful idiots.”

“America and Israel today can forge a security alliance in the Middle East to counter the growing Iranian threat,” he told lawmakers as demonstrators burned his effigy in the streets beyond the historic Capitol complex.

“All countries that are in peace with Israel, and all those countries who will make peace with Israel, should be invited to join this alliance.”

Iran, he said, was the “axis of terror” behind almost all sectarian killing in the Middle East. He argued that the United States and Israel “must stand together” against Tehran and its proxies.

“Our enemies are your enemies. Our fight is your fight. And our victory will be your victory,” Netanyahu said.

– Deep divisions in US over war –

But Americans are deeply divided over Israel’s war on Gaza as the death toll climbs, and the demonstration outside the Capitol swelled to thousands ahead of Netanyahu’s appearance.

Inside the House of Representatives — one-half of the main Capitol building — six protesters were arrested before Netanyahu began.

Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker, waved signs from the floor calling Netanyahu a “war criminal” and accusing him of genocide.

Wednesday’s address made Israel’s longest-serving premier the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times — pulling ahead of Britain’s Winston Churchill.

But he has lost backing among dozens of liberal lawmakers, and some 68 Democrats — including some of the most senior figures in Congress — said they would not attend.

Netanyahu said he was “confident” in efforts to secure the release of the 114 Israelis still held in Gaza, where Israel has killed at least 39,145 people, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry.

Hamas said Netanyahu was “misleading” the international community in his address, saying he “thwarted all efforts aimed at ending the war and concluding a deal to release the prisoners.”

The United States has voiced concerns over bombing in heavily populated parts of Gaza but has defended Israeli interests while taking a key role in mediation efforts.

A senior Biden administration official said Wednesday that negotiations for a Gaza cease-fire deal were in their “closing stages,” speaking on the condition of anonymity.

In Congress, Netanyahu called on Washington to fast-track military aid to his country to “dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East.”

But his call for support sparked a backlash from Democrats angry that there was little of substance in his speech about securing peace.

Influential former House speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary” invited to speak before Congress.