Elon Musk is Netanyahu guest at his speech to Congress

Elon Musk made a shock look in Washington Wednesday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s tackle to Congress, attending the occasion as Netanyahu’s guest.

Musk sat in Netanyahu’s non-public field within the guests gallery above the Home flooring, alongside Netanyahu’s spouse Sara, a number of Israeli troopers and at least one former hostage of Hamas.

The Tesla Motors CEO’s go to to Capitol Hill got here a day after he introduced on X that his satellite tv for pc web firm Starlink had been activated in a Gaza hospital, with the help of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

9 months into the Israel-Hamas war and the ensuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, Netanyahu’s speech has develop into a lightning rod of controversy, triggering an eruption of protests in Washington.

Shortly earlier than Netanyahu was scheduled to start talking, U.S. Capitol Police introduced they have been “deploying pepper spray” towards protesters who had “began to develop into violent” shut to the Capitol.

Netanyahu scolded the protesters in his speech, calling them “Iran’s helpful idiots.”

“These protesters chant from river to the ocean, however many do not have a clue what river and what sea they’re speaking about.” Netanyahu mentioned.

Greater than 30 members of Congress didn’t attend Netanyahu‘s tackle, lots of them skipping the occasion in protest of the Israeli prime minister’s method to the Israel-Hamas warfare.

Considered one of Netanyahu’s most vocal opponents in Congress, nevertheless, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., did attend the speech. At a number of factors, Tlaib held up an indication that learn “Battle Prison.” The clear breach of Home decorum displays the deep and painful divisions in Congress over the prime minister’s management.

Regardless of the absences, the prime minister entered a crowded Home flooring to loud applause and cheering, shaking palms with varied lawmakers on his method to the rostrum.

“America and Israel should stand collectively as a result of once we stand collectively one thing quite simple occurs. We win, they lose,” Netanyahu mentioned at the opening of his remarks.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden “for his heartfelt help for Israel.”

“President Biden and I’ve recognized one another for over 40 years,” Netanyahu mentioned. “I need to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel.”

Biden and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at the White Home on Thursday.

Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t attend Netanyahu’s speech, a conspicuous departure from custom. The White Home attributed her absence to the calls for of journey. Harris may have a separate assembly with Netanyahu on Thursday.

Sometimes, the vice chairman presides over joint congressional classes, however Harris is touring Wednesday, because the newly minted Democratic front-runner for the get together’s presidential nomination.

Former President Donald Trump‘s working mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, additionally skipped the speech due to his “duties to fulfill because the Republican nominee for Vice President,” a Trump marketing campaign official informed NBC Information.

Within the vice chairman’s absence, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., would often take her place because the president professional tempore of the Senate, however she didn’t attend Netanyahu’s tackle for ideological causes, in accordance to NBC Information.

As a substitute, Senate International Relations Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., presided over Netanyahu’s joint tackle.

“The US relationship with the State of Israel transcends politics and partisanship,” Cardin mentioned in a press release to NBC Information. “It transcends anybody Israeli authorities or anybody U.S. administration.”

Although Harris attributed her Wednesday absence to journey, lots of the at least 30 lawmakers mentioned they skipped the speech to boycott Netanyahu. A number of, together with former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., mentioned they’d as an alternative meet with households of hostages held by Hamas or attend a panel on Center East peace and safety.

“Netanyahu shouldn’t be welcomed into america Congress. Quite the opposite, his insurance policies in Gaza and the West Financial institution and his refusal to help a two-state answer must be roundly condemned,” mentioned Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., among the many loudest critics of Netanyahu because the warfare carries on.

Wednesday’s speech was Netanyahu’s fourth tackle to Congress, the final of which befell in March 2015.

Whereas the Prime Minister is on Capitol Hill, he’ll meet with the highest 4 congressional lawmakers: Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.