Israeli prime minister Netanyahu addresses Congress as scores of Democrats boycott

Israeli Prime Minister gave a full-throated speech in defense of his government’s war against Hamas in a joint address to Congress. More than 38 Democrats boycotted the address.

The speech is Netanyahu’s fourth joint address to Congress. The longest-serving prime minister appeared flanked by many senior members of Congress.

The speech comes as much of the international community has raised concerns about Israel’s war with Hamas, which commenced after the terror group launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.

Netanyahu sought to draw similarities of the October 7th attack with the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks during his address.

“That is like twenty 9/11’s in one day,” he said, describing in lurid detail the attack on Israel, noting how only 135 of 255 hostages have been brought home.

“This is not a clash of civilizations,” Netanyahu said. “This is a clash between barbarism and civilization.”

On one end, there was an overwhelming sign of support for Israel even as the country becomes somewhat of an international pariah. Tesla and X/Twitter executive Elon Musk was in attendance, as was recently released hostage Noa Argamani.

But in a symbol of how many Democrats have adamantly opposed his actions, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had initially invited Netanyahu, was not flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris, nor Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray of Washington, but rather Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin of Maryland.

Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the only Palestinian-American congresswoman, held up a sign that said “War Criminal” during much of Netanyahu’s address.

Illinois Representative Jonathan Jackson — the