When Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands before the U.S. Congress on July 24, he will be received by some members – maybe even a majority – with cheers, and many will rise to their feet. Not every prime minister in the world receives such honors. But it’s important to remind those American lawmakers exactly whom they’ll be applauding.
Most surveys show that the vast majority of the people of Israel no longer support him, with the latest poll indicating that “(m)ore than two-thirds (68%) of respondents said Netanyahu’s performance was not good.” On the sensitive issues of the hostage crisis and his management of the war in Gaza, most of us (54 percent) believe that Netanyahu’s “political considerations,” not the national interests, drive his actions.
Netanyahu stands on trial, charged with crimes of corruption, and the court in Jerusalem has not yet rendered judgement. What has been decided in Israel, however, is the question of his legacy. To our great misfortune, after serving the longest term as prime minister in Israel’s history, Netanyahu’s legacy is Oct. 7, the greatest catastrophe visited upon the Jewish people since 1945. The policy of strengthening Hamas was Netanyahu’s alone.
Members of Congress need to understand these facts.
In the nine months since Hamas’s brutal attack, Netanyahu has sought out confrontation with President Biden. He crassly rejected the Biden plan, even though it included generous benefits for Israel, such as reconstruction of Gaza by an Arab-Palestinian force that is not Hamas, and normalization with Saudi Arabia.
Even Republican lawmakers need to ask themselves whether Netanyahu’s blatantly backing the candidacy of Donald Trump in the presidential race actually benefits them, when 72 percent of Israelis think Netanyahu must “resign now or once the war is over,” and he may not be prime minister next year. Moreover, do they consider it wise and responsible for a prime minister who is so dependent on U.S. political and military support to bet so completely on the victory of one side in an American presidential election?
The invitation to Netanyahu to speak in Congress was a tremendous and expensive gift to his political survival campaign. In so doing, those who invited him have bet on a side in our election and in the political struggle that is now tearing Israeli society apart. I doubt that Netanyahu and his entourage will recognize their debt of gratitude. Netanyahu’s opponents, as usual, will forgive.
Of course, not everyone who invited Netanyahu to speak in Congress intended to provide him with this prestigious show for his political campaign. For them, the invitation was their innocent, even naïve, way of expressing solidarity and admiration for Israel -- the democratic, enlightened Israel, the nation of technological and cultural excellence, the Israel now under attack by the proxies of Iran from five different territories in the Middle East.
Yes, that is the Israel that deserves admiration; but is not the country that will be standing at the podium on Capitol Hill.
Rather, the Israel that warrants applause is the people I meet on Saturday evenings at protests, those calling not only for the return of hostages, but also for immediate elections to bring about a different government, one that is democratic, effective and has clean hands.
At the demonstrations, I meet the women and men who have given Israel its qualitative advantage: high tech workers, academics, reservists who have served long months in Gaza, or on the border with Lebanon. These are the people who have made Israel into a state that inspires admiration and solidarity. They are not applauding Netanyahu; to the contrary, their anguished cries demand his removal. They don’t want him as the prime minister of Israel anymore.
The honorable legislators in Congress should think about that Israel and these when they contemplate their response to this prime minister who does not represent most of his people or their interests.
Ephraim Sneh is a retired Israel Defense Force general who served as deputy defense minister and as ministers in the Israeli government. He is a board member of Commanders for Israel’s Security.
