Netanyahu sketches vague outline for post-war Gaza
Send a link to a friend
[July 25, 2024]
By Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
sketched a vague outline of a plan for a "deradicalized" post-war Gaza
in a speech to Congress on Wednesday and touted a potential future
alliance between Israel and America's Arab allies.
While dozens of Democrats boycotted his remarks and thousands of
pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated nearby, Netanyahu dismissed
criticism of an Israeli campaign that has devastated the Palestinian
enclave and killed more than 39,000 of its residents, according to Gaza
health officials.
Anti-Israel protesters stand with Hamas and "should be ashamed of
themselves," Netanyahu said, charging without evidence that they were
backed by Israel's foe Iran. "For all we know, Iran is funding the
anti-Israel protests that are going on right now outside this building,"
he said.
He blamed reports of hunger in Gaza on Hamas, the militant group that
rules the Palestinian enclave, and insisted Israel was protecting
civilians there. He said Israel was intensely engaged in efforts to free
the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Greeted by a standing ovation and cheers from Republicans, and a more
subdued reception from Democrats, Netanyahu pledged that hostages would
be released soon.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers skipped his speech, expressing dismay
over the thousands of civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis from
Israel's campaign in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/25/images/ads/current/lincolnpolice_sda_HEALTH_2024.png)
Hamas-led fighters triggered the war on Oct. 7 by storming into southern
Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 captives, according to
Israeli tallies. Some 120 hostages are still being held though Israel
believes one in three are dead.
In a speech lasting about an hour and interrupted repeatedly by
applause, Netanyahu sought to shore up U.S. support for Israel,
especially weapons supplies, in the face of growing international
censure after more than nine months of conflict in the Palestinian
enclave that has threatened to escalate into a broader regional
conflict.
"Fast-tracking U.S. military aid could dramatically expedite an end to
the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East,"
Netanyahu said.
He said Israel was actively engaged in intensive efforts to secure the
hostages' release. He said his post-war vision was of a "demilitarized
and deradicalized Gaza" led by Palestinians who do not seek to destroy
Israel.
U.S. officials have repeatedly pressed Netanyahu to present a "day
after" plan for Gaza. Netanyahu has said Israel would not allow Hamas to
return to power but would also not accept the Palestinian Authority,
which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, having a role.
SECURITY ALLIANCE
Netanyahu also spoke about the prospects for a broad Middle East
security alliance between Israel and its Arab neighbors, something the
U.S. has sought, as a bulwark against Iran.
Such an arrangement would require the historic normalization of
relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh has said that
Netanyahu’s resistance to Palestinian statehood as well as the ongoing
conflict in Gaza stand in the way of moving forward with this effort.
It was a record fourth speech by a foreign leader to a joint meeting of
the Senate and House of Representatives, surpassing British wartime
leader Winston Churchill, who made three.
Echoing months of protests over the war at U.S. universities this year,
thousands of demonstrators took to the streets amid the tightest
security since the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S.
Capitol. The Capitol building was surrounded by high fencing, with a
heavy police presence.
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/072524PIX/news_t39.jpg)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest, on the day of Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of the U.S.
Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 24, 2024.
REUTERS/Seth Herald
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/25/images/ads/current/graue_lda_preowned_072224.jpg)
Netanyahu sought to bolster his traditional links to Republicans but
also looked to ease tensions with President Joe Biden, a Democrat
whose support he will rely on for the remaining six months of the
president's term.
Speaking as Washington is preoccupied with domestic politics,
Netanyahu thanked both Biden and former President Donald Trump for
their efforts on Israel's behalf. The longtime Israeli leader was
due to meet Biden, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, endorsed
by Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination when he pulled
out Sunday.
Harris, who normally would preside over the speech as vice
president, did not attend. Neither did Republican Senator JD Vance,
Trump's vice presidential running mate.
NO MENTION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE
Netanyahu made no mention of creating a pathway to Palestinian
statehood. That is something he and his far-right coalition partners
have staunchly opposed even as the Biden administration has pushed
Israel to give ground on the issue.
But he stopped short of ruling out the West Bank-led Palestinian
Authority, whose role in a future two-state solution is favored by
the Biden administration but opposed by Netanyahu's coalition
partners.
Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Netanyahu's
speech showed he does not want to conclude a ceasefire deal.
"Netanyahu's speech was full of lies and it will not succeed in
covering up for the failure and defeat in the face of the resistance
to cover up for the crimes of the war of genocide his army is
committing against the people of Gaza," Abu Zuhri said.
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, who sat on the dais in place of
Harris, said he was pleased to hear Netanyahu make positive comments
about Biden, although he was not pleased with his comments about the
American protesters.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said he thought Netanyahu's speech
set back the two countries' relationship. "The downplaying of the
humanitarian crisis was astonishing to hear," he said on X.com.
"Netanyahu would have been better off spending this time finalizing
a deal to bring the hostages home and end the war, instead of coming
here to comment on U.S. politics," he said.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/25/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
Biden and Harris will both meet Netanyahu on Thursday, and are
expected to press for progress toward a ceasefire and
hostage-release deal. Harris has at times been more forward-leaning
than her boss in criticizing Israel for heavy Palestinian civilian
casualties in Gaza.
Netanyahu was to travel to Florida to meet with Trump on Friday. The
meeting will be their first since the end of Trump's presidency,
during which the two forged close ties.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Matt
Spetalnick, Rami Ayyub, Ismail Shakil and Doina Chiacu; editing by
Don Durfee and Howard Goller)
[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |