Empty Seats Outshine Netanyahu’s Address to U.S. Congress

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s U.S. Congress address, a North Korean trash balloon landing in Seoul, and Kenya’s new cabinet appointees.

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Netanyahu in the House

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out nine months ago. In his speech, delivered in the House chamber, he referred to Iran as Israel’s greatest threat, denied war crimes allegations, condemned the rise of antisemitism and anti-Israel protests on U.S. campuses, and reiterated that Israel will continue to fight for “total victory” in Gaza.

Netanyahu also emphasized the close—and, historically, bipartisan—relationship between the United States and Israel, and he made a point to thank both U.S. President Joe Biden for his “half a century of friendship to Israel” and support during the war as well as former U.S. President Donald Trump for “all the things he did for Israel” during his time in office.

“For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together,” Netanyahu said. He urged the United States to “fast-track” additional military aid to Israel, equating its war with Hamas to Washington’s fight against Nazi Germany during World War II. “Through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, Israel will always be your loyal friend and your steadfast partner,” he added.

However, Netanyahu’s bipartisan appeal was met with a cold shoulder, mostly from one side of the aisle. Roughly half of congressional Democrats boycotted the address, including Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 leader; former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn; and three of the four members of the so-called Squad.

“I don’t want to be part of a political prop in this act of deception,” said Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who also did not attend the speech. Netanyahu “is not the great guardian of the U.S.-Israel relationship.” Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the presumptive Democratic nominee on Sunday ahead of presidential elections in November, cited a scheduling conflict for her absence.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, did attend. Wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf, or keffiyeh, around her neck as well as a Palestinian flag pin, Tlaib sat surrounded by mostly empty seats. At times during the speech, she held up a small sign that read “war criminal” on one side and “guilty of genocide” on the other.

Netanyahu used much of the hourlong address to deny accusations that Israel is purposefully starving and targeting civilians, instead blaming Hamas for stealing food and using human shields. But rights groups continue to accuse Israel of blocking humanitarian goods from crossing into Gaza. And in May, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for “causing extermination; causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies; [and] deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.”

During Wednesday’s speech, Netanyahu also accused Iran of supporting anti-Israel movements in the United States, including protests outside of the White House this week. “I have a message for these protesters,” Netanyahu said. “You have officially become Iran’s useful idiots.”

Police arrested at least three people in the congressional gallery for wearing “Seal the Deal Now” shirts—in apparent reference to ongoing cease-fire and hostage release negotiations—and authorities reportedly pepper-sprayed marchers outside of the Capitol building. A group of congressional staffing aides held a “walkout against war crimes” while Netanyahu spoke, and the Hostages Families Forum, which represents the families of Israelis in captivity in Gaza, issued a statement saying that Netanyahu’s trip “holds no significance unless it includes the words, ‘There’s a deal.’”

Netanyahu will meet with Biden and Harris separately on Thursday to discuss U.S.-Israeli security commitments, Iran’s regional influence, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the cease-fire negotiations. “We believe a deal is closable,” a senior U.S. administration official said on background in a call with reporters after Netanyahu’s speech, with discussions now focusing on implementation issues. This will be Biden’s first face-to-face meeting with Netanyahu since shortly after the war began. Netanyahu will then fly to Florida to visit Trump.

Today’s Most Read

What We’re Following

The trash balloons are back. At least one North Korean balloon carrying trash fell on South Korea’s presidential compound in Seoul on Wednesday. The balloon contained no dangerous material, and no one was hurt, authorities said; it is unclear whether South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was present in the compound at the time.

North Korea began releasing balloons carrying trash and excrement into South Korea two months ago in response to Seoul sending propaganda messages, such as K-pop songs and government broadcasts, over the border. More than 2,000 balloons have floated across in 10 mass launches since then. The South Korean military is “closely monitoring North Korean movements,” Defense Minister Shin Won-sik told Japanese newspaper Yomiuri on Wednesday.

Ruto’s new cabinet. Kenyan President William Ruto nominated four opposition members to his cabinet on Wednesday, including to head the powerful finance and energy ministries. If approved by Parliament, they will be the first members of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to serve in Nairobi’s government since ODM leader Raila Odinga became prime minister in 2008.

Ruto’s cabinet choices aim to create a new “broad-based government” that will address rising discontent over his presidency. Last month, Ruto proposed—and eventually rescinded—$2.7 billion in tax hikes to alleviate Kenya’s economic crisis. The unpopular decision led to mass deadly protests, the firing of most of Ruto’s cabinet members, and an online #RutoMustGo campaign spearheaded by young people calling for the president’s resignation.

On Wednesday, protesters criticized Ruto’s decision to reinstate six members of his disbanded cabinet, including the defense and interior ministers. The ODM maintains that it will not form a unity government with Ruto’s ruling United Democratic Alliance.

Systemic abuse. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon apologized and promised reforms on Wednesday after a six-year public investigation found that state and religious care centers abused around 200,000 children, young people, and vulnerable adults over the past 70 years. That amounts to 1 in 3 people in orphanages, mental health institutions, and other facilities from 1950 to 2019 having experienced incidents including rape, sterilization, electric shocks, and other forms of torture. Those with mental or physical disabilities as well as the Indigenous Maori community were especially vulnerable to abuse, the report said.

“This is a dark and sorrowful day in New Zealand’s history as a society and as a state,” Luxon said. “We should have done better, and I am determined that we will do so.” Among other proposed reforms, he suggested that total compensation for the survivors could be in the billions of dollars. New Zealand’s Anglican and Methodist churches on Wednesday issued statements acknowledging the harms done and pledging to implement the report’s recommendations; the country’s Catholic and Presbyterian churches declined to comment until they finish reviewing the findings.

Odds and Ends

If you thought the 2023 comedy-horror film Cocaine Bear depicted a dangerous phenomenon, now there’s a real-life sea version. Marine biologists discovered 13 sharpnose sharks off the coast of Brazil last year that tested positive for high levels of cocaine in their systems, according to a new study published this month. Experts believe that illegal labs manufacturing the drug or the excrement of cocaine users could be contaminating the water. The report warned that such contaminations could threaten critical marine life and food chains.

The post Empty Seats Outshine Netanyahu’s Address to U.S. Congress appeared first on Foreign Policy.