Netanyahu’s Washington power move: US Politics under Israel’s sway

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers his fourth speech to the US Congress in Washington on July 23. News agencies highlight that President Joe Biden’s first meeting with a foreign leader, after withdrawing from the election race, will be with Netanyahu on July 25. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden has endorsed as his successor, will meet separately with Netanyahu as she, unfortunately, will miss his Congress address due to campaign commitments.

Netanyahu, however, is not putting all his eggs in one basket. While thanking Biden for his support of Israel, he expresses confidence that no matter who wins the election, the US administration will continue to fully support Israel. Indeed, news agencies report that Netanyahu has requested a meeting with Republican candidate (and former president) Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt on July 14.

Netanyahu’s invitation to speak to Congress was made by a joint decision of both Republican and Democratic parties. The hosts are Senate Majority Leader, Democrat New York Senator Chuck Schumer, and Speaker of the House, Republican Los Angeles Representative Mike Johnson.

The Israeli Prime Minister is showcasing his power in the US Capital amid the chaos following the President’s withdrawal from the election.

The influence of Israel in US Politics

When Israel declared its independence in 1948, the first country to recognize it was the Soviet Union. The US took a bit longer to officially recognize Israel because the oil-rich Arab countries at the time were demanding guarantees to protect the Palestinians first. Ultimately, President Harry Truman is known to have cut it short with these words:

“I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I have to answer to hundreds of thousands who are anxious for the success of Zionism: I do not have hundreds of thousands of Arabs among my constituents,”

But now the issue extends beyond the number of Jewish voters in a constituency. It’s more about the campaign support provided by the Israel lobby to candidates. The “Open Secrets” site, which researches the relationship between politics and money, lists how much -on record- campaign donations pro-Israel politicians have received since 1990; Biden is at the top of the list.

Netanyahu undoubtedly has information about these lists and more.

All politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike, seem to be competing to win the favor of the Israel lobby in pursuit of campaign donations before the election.

For that reason, Netanyahu can demand more money and weapons against the Palestinians in the US Congress with a “boss” attitude.

Netanyahu: The untouchable politician in the US

Netanyahu can be held accountable in his own country, Israel. Except for the system’s oppression of Palestinians, Israel has a functioning democratic structure internally. The Prime Minister can be sued, tried, and imprisoned. In fact, Netanyahu’s attempt to change the judiciary for this purpose was turned back by public reaction. The continuation of the Gaza attack, which began with Hamas’s October 7 attack and has so far killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, in a way delays Netanyahu’s trial process.

The Israeli opposition criticizes Netanyahu for his handling of the conflict. Prominent figures have even published a declaration in the New York Times urging the US Congress not to invite him, stating that “he does not represent” them.

But Netanyahu has immunity in the US. US Presidents can be harshly criticized, tried, and even ridiculed like Biden, but Netanyahu, the living symbol of right-wing Zionist aggression, enjoys an immunity shield.

Mainstream American media can only criticize him at most for the difficulties in delivering “humanitarian aid” to the Palestinian people under the bombs, provided by the US and some EU countries. Journalists who go beyond this are instantly fired from American newspapers and TV stations.

Netanyahu is the leader of the racist-religious right-wing Zionism in Israel. The untouchable reputation he enjoys in US politics is not only a sign of the decay in US politics but also of how global balances are being driven to a fertile ground for the spread of wars.