Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington this week to a reception, unlike any previous leader of our nation’s strongest ally in the Middle East. He was greeted by literally nobody from the Harris/Biden administration. Not Joe Biden. Not newly-minted Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. No Secretary of State. Not even a marginal helper like “Doctor” Jill Biden. What an insult.
Netanyahu spent the evening at Washington’s famed Watergate Hotel, which was ringed by pro-Hamas insurrectionists wielding bullhorns and sirens. Someone inside the Watergate pulled the hotel’s fire alarm several times during the night, endangering the life of not only the Prime Minister but all other hotel guests.
Despite the diplomatic snubs and unruly mobs, Netanyahu pushed forward, accepting the invitation of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to address a joint session of Congress—for the 4th time in his life—with an update on Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists.
From the moment he strode into the packed House chamber on Capitol Hill to thunderous applause, Netanyahu towered over his critics. He brought heroes of the current war to the session, including a young hostage who returned after a daring rescue mission. Several Israeli soldiers who had lost legs, arms, or eyes also accompanied Bibi, who led the assembled lawmakers in a standing ovation for their bravery.
His powerful address—available in full online and via YouTube or social media—delivered a bold message to Israel’s enemies back home and to misguided insurrectionists here in America.
"We meet today at a crossroads of history. Our world is in upheaval," Netanyahu declared. "In the Middle East, Iran's axis of terror confronts America, Israel, and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It's a clash between barbarism and civilization. It's a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life. For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together."
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Among the rude and disgraceful Democrats on display in the House chamber were House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries…Michigan Congresswoman and “Squad” gang member Rashida Talib…plus stolen valor U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who was elected claiming he was a “Vietnam combat veteran” but later was forced to admit he never even served in ‘Nam.
Leader Jeffries basically sat on his hands throughout Bibi Netanyahu’s remarks, failing to stand even when the Prime Minister outlined the many atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th, including murdering babies. He said those (demonstrators) who support Hamas “should be ashamed of yourselves.” As senators and congressmen lept to their feet cheering, Hakeem Jeffries sat stone-faced and did not even applaud.
Netanyahu’s characterization of Hamas supporters as “Iran’s useful idiots” was on vivid display as Talib glared at the Israeli leader throughout his address, holding up a little baby-on-board-style paddle reading “War Criminal.” (Is she in Second Grade?)
And glowering but occasionally applauding was the aforementioned Connecticut Senator “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal, who was made to look like even more of a chump when even Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman showed enough class to occasionally stand and applaud Netanyahu. Blumenthal glowered and made us wonder why he bothered to show up.
Outside the Capitol, the scene was like a Fellini movie unfolding…as an obviously confused New York City-based Rabbi Dovid Feldman—displaying payos curls and decked out in traditional black Hassidic dress—attacked Netanyahu for supposedly disseminating misleading propaganda. He told the assembled malcontents, “We are all Palestinians.” (Um, no, Rabbi. We are not. Please have a safe Greyhound ride back to The Big Apple.)
American Postal Workers Union and the UAW members mingled with young people who appeared to be dopers taking a few hours off from their jobs as cashiers at local weed shops. A hepped-up spokeswoman named simply “Chris” from the always nutty CODE PINK group bounded onstage to exhort the crowd to recite after her: “Netanyahu, you cannot hide… you’re committing gen-o-cide.”(Iambic pentameter is clearly not CODE PINK’s strong suit.)
FOX News Channel reporter Griff Jenkins strolled through the Visigoths to ascertain what they hoped to accomplish with their group therapy sessions on the National Mall and elsewhere. Griff was met with screams of “Shut up!” and “F-Israel!” Do you suppose ANY of these people understand the concept of operating within the marketplace of ideas?
Over on the linear equivalent of the Hamas News Network—MSNBC—host Katy Tur abandoned any semblance of journalistic objectivity (I know, I know, an oxymoron), vainly trying to give Democrats cover by suggesting that supporting Israel is not the same as supporting Prime Minister Netanyahu. A lot of them, she suggested, feel “Prime Minister Netanyahu has just been awful. Absolutely terrible for the State of Israel…the fact that he even allowed October 7th to happen with the massive intelligence failure that started this war.”
Of course, using the Katy Tur theory of spontaneous generation, one might lay the Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life at the feet of her hero Kamala Harris…now that evidence continues to be revealed of the “massive intelligence failure” of the U.S. Secret Service under the Harris/Biden administration. Oops, I forgot. No criticism of Kamala Harris can be levied without cries of “misogyny” and “racism.” Nevermind.
In the end, the day belonged to Benjamin Netanyahu. His grace and his powerful words will ring out through the ages, long after Lilliputians like CODE PINK and Rashida Talib have been rightly consigned to the dustbin of history.
For freedom lovers and patriots throughout America, the message is 180 degrees the opposite of what that rabbi who joined insurrectionists on the National Mall contended.
The actual message is: “We are all ISRAELIS now.”
Tom Tradup is V.P./News and Talk Programming for Dallas-based Salem Radio Network.
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