There is no doubt that PM Netanyahu is a skilled orator, and so to the average pro-Israel audience, his speech to the American Congress will be celebrated for decades to come.
To preface, for many years, I was a major Bibi fan; I remember waiting with excitement for his motorcade to pass by on 5th avenue in NYC some years ago. I also know it was his hard work and the diplomatic corps under his guidance that set in motion for the Abraham Accords to come to life. Making inroads with more moderate Arab nations is his forte. Leading a nation during a war following a Jewish genocide is absolutely not in his wheelhouse.
I give Netanyahu kudos for going into detail about the Jewish genocide, for highlighting the sheer bravery of numerous IDF (Tzahal) soldiers (chayalim) of various backgrounds to showcase that it is not just Jews who serve in Israel’s army. And of course, the hostage families were front and center.
But there were many parts of the speech that veered off course and made Bibi appear weak, and question Israel’s safety under his leadership. If we are to be honest, Israel has been lacking a strong leader for decades. The Judean homeland has had a plethora of proud past Generals and pre-liberation leaders take the helm of PM, and then most have succumbed to giving away land for a non-existent peace.
Similarly, Netanyahu gave away 97% of Hebron in 1997 to Arab occupiers. https://www.jpost.com/blogs/the-wilder-way/it-will-not-be-easy-but-we-will-persevere-366167 Of course, Dennis Ross, a Jew, working with Bill Clinton helped the antisemitic deal. Further, Netanyahu, decades ago emphatically stated to a joint Session of Congress that he would implement the anti-Israel Oslo Accords left by his predecessor.
The constant usage of the antisemitic term, ‘Palestinians’ was surely not only not needed in Netanyahu’s speech last week, but it was also aiding in antisemitism. How so, when many Jews unfortunately use the term inaccurately? I was one of those Jews for 20 years. It is only NOT antisemitic when used properly, to refer to Jews who lived IN Israel from 136 AD – 1948.
Any reference to Arabs being ‘Palestinians’ upholds the antisemitic Operation SIG launched by the KGB in 1967. Does Bibi not know actual Jewish history? His father is a well-respected historian and so his son should know what the Soviet KGB did to Israel and Jews from 1967 – 1988; their actions have culminated in the dangerous protests and pogroms we see on the streets of Europe and America today. Each and every terrorist attack against Jews since 1967 has been a result of the lie that there is some separate ethnicity called ‘the Palestinians’ that are unique from Arab occupiers who came from 25 different Muslim nations to Israel (which includes Gaza, all of Judea & Samaria, and technically, all of Jordan), from whom land was ‘taken.’ Also the Jew-hating lie that there is an Israel AND a Palestine.
PM Netanyahu could have used a fraction of his time in front of Congress to clearly explain how and why Jews are indigenous to Israel instead of merely saying it has been our land for 4,000 years. That the greatest amount of Muslim immigration to Israel was between the World Wars, only after Jews began to fully revitalize the land. And it would have taken under two minutes to share that there is no Palestinian ethnicity; no Arab prior to 1967 would have tolerated being called a Palestinian as the moniker was so closely associated with Jews. The Arabs in Palestine all preferred to be called Arabs or even South Syrians. The Arabs literally revolted when the British occupiers attempted to call the Arab population, ‘Palestinian-Arabs.’ And to finally clarify that parts of Israel are under occupation (Gaza and 2/3rds of Judea & Samaria).
Most egregious, was Netanyahu’s firm stance that Israel will not ‘occupy’ Gaza post-war. My jaw nearly dropped when I heard that live. Israel cannot trust any even moderate Arab nations to oversee the governance of Gaza. Why? None will care about the safety of Jews in Israel, and will let back in UNRWA, or a version of UNRWA. None understand that Hamas and Islamic Jihad literally emerged from the Arab occupier population in Gaza, and have a loyal following also among the Arab occupier population in Judea & Samaria. In actuality, Hamas will never be truly eliminated. Sure, Israel can and is now greatly decreasing Hamas’ military capabilities, but what will happen once Gaza will be rebuilt?
That is why Jews need to think strategically. This war will eventually end. Whether in mere months or as some seasoned Israeli Generals have mentioned that it might take up to two years. If Israel does not fully reclaim Jewish Gaza (one cannot ‘occupy’ or ‘re-occupy’ one’s own land), there will be another Jewish genocide, greater than the one last October 7th.
More than half the world is now sympathetic to the Arab occupiers and billions would be poured into Gaza from pro-terrorist nations and entities like Qatar, Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Malaysia, the EU, and liberals in the U.S., the Soros Open Societies Foundation, the Tides Foundation, the Rockefeller Fund, and countless others. Once that happens and Israel loses its grip of its own land, yet again, it will be the end of Israel. Coupled with the fact that the terrorist PA, not moderate whatsoever, has now officially joined forces with Hamas, there will be a new and even stronger Hamas, regardless what happens in Iran.
Netanyahu should have firmly explained the Jewish history in Gaza and that after the greatest atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, that Israel will absolutely take back full control of Gaza, do what it needs with the Arab occupiers to ensure that truly never again will another Jew be murdered by terrorism in their own homeland.
Also, all the talk about ‘first Israel, then the West’ is simply not true. The West had dealt with ISIS for years, not to mention that Islam literally conquered almost all of Europe at various points throughout history. Further, most of the West has already fallen to Islam anyway, currently. Just look at the pro-terrorist sympathizers on the left in the U.S and EU; there are entire towns in Michigan where Muslims have full control, as does nearly every country in Western Europe.
None of my Israeli friends support Netanyahu anymore, all say that American Ashkenaz Jews like him because he is Ashkenaz, speaks English well, and attended an Ivy League university. They are disgusted that it took 220 Houthi missiles and a murdered Jew in Tel Aviv, before Bibi decided to respond, are angry that he did not listen to Minister of Defense Gallant to fully siege Gaza, expediting the hostages release many months ago, and is playing whack a mole with Hezbollah, instead of obliterating Southern Lebanon like in 2006 which kept the terrorist rats quiet for 17 years, especially in light of the horrendous murder of the 12 Druze children in Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights section of Israel just yesterday (Saturday).
Even my Ashkenaz friends in Israel say that Israel needs a strong Mizrahi leader, one that does not kowtow to the West, one that understands Israel is not a ‘state’ but a strong sovereign nation, a nation that needs to protect its citizens at all costs.
It’s time for Netanyahu to step aside for Amichai Chikli or Itamar Ben-Gvir. Or someone similar to them, who is not afraid to implement policies that will ensure Israel’s safety long-term.