On July 24, 2024, the Prime Minster of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivered a formal address to a joint session of Congress on the invitation of Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Prime Minister Netanyahu used this extraordinary opportunity to speak directly to the American people (and the world) and to state Israel’s case. He defined Israel’s position clearly and forcefully. In fact, he achieved a remarkable level of identification with his listeners.
Congress is one of the important components of the American government, composed of three branches — the Legislative, the Executive (the President) and the Judicial (the Supreme Court). Article I, Section I of the Constitution states simply, “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” Effectively, Congress may potentially be the most powerful branch of the government. It has the authority to pass laws, raise taxes, decide appropriations, and exercise oversight. In addition, Congress has the power to place an issue on the national agenda, such as Israel’s right to self-defense and the aggressive pro-Hamas demonstrations on college campuses, some of which featured open attacks on Jewish students.
Our world has changed and American legislators understand the danger of terrorism. In fact, a solid representation of Congressmen and women have served in the in the armed services, particularly the Marines, and have become familiar with the ways of the Middle East.
Many of them are sensitive to moral and cultural considerations, and in a real sense, the observations of the French historian, Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in the 1830s, are relevant. Tocqueville wrote the classic, Democracy in America, where he stated that the “morality and equity” of Christianity were a moderating influence in American life and the basis of American freedom. Without calling it by name, he described the essence of American exceptionalism:
Religion, which, among Americans, never mixes directly in the government of society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions; for if it does not give them the taste for freedom, it singularly facilitates their use of it.
…. I do not know if all Americans have faith in their religion – for who can read the bottom of hearts – but I am sure that they believe it necessary to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion does not belong only to one class of citizens or to one party, but to the entire nation; one finds it in all ranks.
When President Jimmy Carter took office in 1977, he called on the legendary Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, who advised him that “The Congress of the United States includes some of the most talented and knowledgeable lawmakers in the world. Some of them have been here for years, because the people at home have such faith in them.” Tip O’Neill’s description remains valid. Congressmen and women seek their own sources of information and draw their own conclusions. The formidable initiatives of the House Education Committee are an example.
As far as the back story of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address, there is a difference of opinion between President Biden and the Prime Minister. Despite the atrocities of October 7 and the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, American policy was and remains imposing a ceasefire which would leave Hamas in power, while Israel’s policy is to end the conflict by defeating the enemy and winning. Concurrently, the same debate continues in Israel.
The moral issue is whether a self-respecting sovereign country which had been the victim of aggression should make a deal with terrorists whose motto is “by any means necessary.” In his address, Netanyahu boldly called this war “a clash between barbarism and civilization,” and declared that the United States and Israel must stand together, because we have the same enemy. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s forcefully stated, “We will win!”
According to Caroline Glick, the meeting with President Biden on the day after the Prime Minister’s address ended in a bust up. The President admonished the Prime Minister that “the time has come to end this war,” to which he replied, “Mr. President, we will end this war when we win it!” Glick noted that the Prime Minister represents the majority of the Israeli public which support his position.
Over the years, there have been ups and downs in the relations between America and Israel. Nevertheless, there is a continuity of friendship, shared values, and interests. Therefore, we must show great appreciation for the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who graciously invited the Prime Minister to address Congress and stateIsrael’s case directly to the American people.
The article was originally published on ynetnews
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the movement
