Netanyahu doesn’t deserve to address Congress again

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) announced: Considering invitation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in parliament. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York recently reportedly said that Prime Minister Netanyahu has “lost his way” by putting his own political survival above the interests of his country. he indicated support for the invitation.

This is wrong.

More than any other foreign leader, Prime Minister Netanyahu has embedded himself in the web of American politics and foreign policy. When he accepted the invitation, Speech in Parliament more times than Winston Churchill.

He came to the United States as a key ally, but his comments harmed our national interests.

A review of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s past speeches to Congress reveals that he is no friend of the United States. Regarding the decision to attack iraq or abandon the Iran nuclear dealPrime Minister Netanyahu has chosen to pressure the United States to do his bidding, regardless of the consequences.

Hailed as Israel’s “Mr.” security,” and strongly encouraged the United States to attack Iraq. Congressional Testimony, September 2002.

“There is no question that Saddam Hussein is pursuing, working on, and making progress in developing nuclear weapons,” he said, adding, “Once Saddam has nuclear weapons, terrorist networks will have nuclear weapons as well.” It will be,” he added.

Staring into a crystal ball, he predicted Once Saddam is overthrown, the Iranian people will rise up against their regime, “and the people sitting next to Iran, the young people, and many others, will stand up against such a regime and such tyranny.” They would say the era of monarchs is over.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s tapestry of lies and wishful thinking was intended to benefit Israeli goals, not America’s.

Israel considered Iraq a formidable enemy given its large army. During the first Gulf War, 42 long-range Scud missiles Iraq opened fire on Israel. The post-9/11 environment provided Prime Minister Netanyahu with the perfect opportunity to settle a deal with the Iraqi dictator by trying to induce the United States to overthrow him.

Israel was well aware that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft, August 1981 destroyed a nuclear reactor in Iraq In Osirak. Thereafter, Israeli intelligence closely monitored Iraq to ensure that it did not attempt to rebuild its nuclear capabilities. Nevertheless, he is determined to repeat the Bush administration’s false narrative, and his testimony swayed many who were “sitting on the fence” to end up supporting the invasion. .

Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed Congress in March 2015, determined to thwart President Barack Obama’s plan to sign a deal to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Aligning with Republican forces opposed to the agreement, he declared: “We’ve been told there’s no better deal than a bad deal. Well, this is a bad deal. A very bad deal. We’re better off without it.” warned that it would pave the way for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has urged President Trump to abandon the Iran deal, ignoring the opinion of Israeli military authorities to keep it in place.

“The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided deals the United States has ever entered into.” said Mr. Trump.

But the deal’s abandonment, contrary to Netanyahu’s predictions, has given Iran an incentive to accelerate its nuclear program.

Kamal Harazzi, Chairman of Iran’s Foreign and Strategic Council, said in a 2022 interview with Al Jazeera. Said Iran is “one step away from reaching the 90 percent purity” needed to assemble a nuclear bomb. He also warned that attacks on Iranian facilities by the United States and Israel would not succeed in halting Iran’s nuclear program.

The United States and Israel are currently confronting Iran, which has become a nuclear power.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current position on Israel is markedly different from 2015, when he addressed Congress on the Iran deal.

Israel’s failure to stop the October 7 Hamas attack and the military’s inability to repel the invaders or evade the hostages has led most Israelis to think of Prime Minister Netanyahu as Became. person responsible for the disaster. Presumably, once the war ends, new elections will be held and Prime Minister Netanyahu will be ousted.

According to a January poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute, 15 percent Many Israelis hope that Netanyahu will remain prime minister after the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, fearful of losing power, is trying to prolong the war as long as possible, even if the hostages held by Hamas die.Despite Biden claim It has ignored the regime’s pleas, insisting that humanitarian aid to Gaza residents must be provided uninterrupted.He also Deny Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from starvation and famine, according to a United Nations report.

Prime Minister Netanyahu leads a country occupied by radical Messianic Jews. Bezalel Smotrich, head of the Jewish Home Party, and Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the Jewish Power Party, are key to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.

They believe that Israel’s Biblical heritage includes the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, which should be under Israeli sovereignty.they also advocate Rebuilding Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and Reversing the 2005 evacuation This is the decision of all Israeli communities in the Strip, who believe they are responsible for the October 7 invasion.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to explain to Israelis at home his failure to stop October 7 and his lack of vision for the “day after” the end of the conflict. He would rather insert himself into American political controversy than face the people.

The latest public rift between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden goes far beyond the US abdication in the Security Council vote for a ceasefire in Gaza and disagreements over plans to attack Rafah. Prime Minister Netanyahu believes he can only complete his term in office, which ends in October 2026, if President Trump, who remains popular in Israel, is re-elected. His actions reflect this sentiment.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s exploits in Washington are a recipe for disaster. The streets of Washington DC could become a war zone. His presence on Capitol Hill will further polarize American sentiment about the war.

Given his history and agenda of prolonging the war at all costs, inviting Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress would not only ignite domestic anger, but also undermine American credibility. It will undermine efforts to end the bloody tragedy.

Yehuda Lukacs is Associate Professor Emeritus of World Affairs at George Mason University.