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Netanyahu, Benjamin

Netanyahu's Speech to Congress: A Divided House

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received applause and standing ovations during his address to a joint meeting of Congress, but the reaction was far from unified. Democrats expressed their disapproval through their body language and public statements, while Republicans seized on the positive reception. The speech came at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the US over the nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Key Takeaways:

  • Netanyahu's speech was met with overwhelmingly positive reaction from Republicans, with several members praising the speech and applauding enthusiastically.
  • Democrats, on the other hand, were visibly unimpressed, with many leaving the chamber before Netanyahu finished speaking and others displaying clear disapproval through their body language.
  • House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described the speech as an "insult to the intelligence of the United States" and said she was "near tears" throughout.
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the speech "powerful" but said it failed to offer any viable alternatives to the nuclear talks.
  • Republicans, including Sen. Bob Corker and Rep. Peter King, seized on the positive reception to Netanyahu's speech, with Corker saying it "crystallized a lot of thinking" for senators on nuclear talks.

Statistics:

  • 46 members of Congress announced they would skip the speech (none of them were present in the chamber).
  • The galleries were packed with supporters invited by members of Congress, mostly from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
  • Sen. Richard Durbin, the minority whip, said he didn't decide until Monday night to attend the speech, citing "respect for Israel" and a personal friendship.
  • Netanyahu's speech lasted approximately 30 minutes.

Sources:

  • DeBonis, Mike. "Netanyahu met with applause, scorn from Congress." Washington Post, 11 Mar 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/netanyahu-meets-with-applause-and-scorning-from-congress/2015/03/11/a6e29228-cd0c-11e4-8bf5-2bc5f0b617d8_story.html?utm_term=.e108f5e3eee6
  • DeYoung, Karen. "Netanyahu's speech to Congress: A defensive and defiant tone." Washington Post, 11 Mar 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/world/_middle_east/netanyahus-speech-to-congress-a-defensive-and-defiant-tone/2015/03/11/c5e2a4aa-cd05-11e4-8bf5-2bc5f0b617d8_story.html?utm_term=.03d89a7ec260

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