WASHINGTON: Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Gaza ceasefire demonstrators Wednesday and called for a global alliance against the Iranian regime he accuses of funding the protests, as he addressed a US Congress divided by the war.
Washington has become increasingly alarmed by the humanitarian toll of Israel’s nine-month campaign in the narrow coastal territory, and protests in Israel and the United States have been ratcheting up pressure on Netanyahu.
The prime minister hit back at his critics in a speech at the US Capitol in which he accused Tehran of funding and promoting US-based anti-Israel protest – and called Gaza peace activists “Iran’s useful idiots.”
“America and Israel today can forge a security alliance in the Middle East to counter the growing Iranian threat,” he told lawmakers, as in the streets outside, demonstrators burned an effigy of him.
“All countries that are in peace with Israel, and all those countries who will make peace with Israel, should be invited to join this alliance.”
Thousands protest Netanyahu outside US Capitol
Iran, he said, was the “axis of terror” behind almost all sectarian killing in the Middle East. He argued that the United States and Israel “must stand together” against Tehran and its proxies.
“Our enemies are your enemies. Our fight is your fight. And our victory will be your victory,” Netanyahu said to a standing ovation in the House chamber.
“As we defend ourselves on all fronts, I know that America has our back.”
Deep divisions
But Americans are deeply divided over Israel’s actions in Gaza as the death toll climbs, and the demonstration outside the Capitol swelled to thousands of people ahead of Netanyahu’s appearance.
They were kept at least a block away by police who fired pepper spray, and they eventually dispersed.
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