Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed pro-Palestine protesters as he called them "Iran's useful idiots" in a fiery speech at the US's Capitol on Wednesday, even as dozens of Democratic lawmakers, including former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, boycotted the address.
Netanyahu received a standing ovation for his speech. However, many lawmakers, including Democrat Rashida Tlaib - sole Palestinian American in Congress - chose not to stand up. Tlaib, who is a fiercely outspoken opponent of Israel's war in Gaza, held up a sign that read 'war criminal' on one side and 'guilty of genocide' on the other as the Israeli Prime Minister addressed the Joint Session of the Congress.
"For all we know, Iran is funding the anti-Israel protests that are going on right now outside this building - not that many, but they're there - and throughout the city. Well, I have a message for these protesters: When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots," Netanyahu said.
The statement drew loud cheers and a standing ovation, but many lawmakers stayed put in their seats, including Rashida Tlaib.
The Israeli Prime Minister also had a message for the 'Gays for Gaza' movement, which has been showing support for Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
"Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming Gays for Gaza. They might as well hold up signs saying, chickens for KFC," Benjamin Neytanyahu said.
Pro-Palestine protesters demanding the US stop military aid to Israel hoisted Palestinian flags and burnt American ones outside Washington's Union Station in demonstrations against Netanyahu's visit to the US. Some protesters assembled outside the US Capitol Hill while the Israeli Prime Minister spoke to Congress, and police used pepper spray on them.
Over 60 Democrats and political independent Bernie Sanders boycotted Benjamin Netanyahu's speech. The most notable absence was US Vice President Kamala Harris, who cited a long-scheduled trip as the reason for not attending.
Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, called the Israeli Prime Minister's speech "the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress".
This was Netanyahu's fourth address to the US Congress, the most by any foreign leader. He alleged that in the Middle East, Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism, turmoil, chaos and killing.
