Ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's presentation before the US Congress on July 24, Israeli officials opted to share their thoughts about the representation their prime minister would provide, which has transcended to become controversial and unacceptable in light of the war in Gaza. 

David Harel, Tamir Pardo, Talia Sasson, Ehud Barak, Aaron Ciechanover, and David Grossman, all settlers who have held and are holding prestigious positions in private and public Israeli establishments described Netanyahu's invitation to Congress as a "terrible mistake" in a guest essay published by The New York Times. 

Under different circumstances, Netanyahu's address in Congress would be considered a manifestation of "Israel" and the United States' "shared values". However, seeing Netanyahu's decisions throughout the past nine months since the war on Gaza was launched, his presentation, according to the authors, no longer represented the Israeli settler community but rewarded his "scandalous and destructive conduct" toward the occupation. 

Netanyahu's repeated failures

The authors highlighted Netanyahu's failures throughout the war, ranging from failing to return the captives safely to ending the war altogether, saying the invitation would only reward his failures and dismissal of US efforts that sought to establish a peace plan for Gaza, deliver more aid into the Strip, and spare civilian lives. 

They also said Netanyahu was the main obstacle to the resolution of major regional conflicts, alliances, and the "Israeli-Palestinian conflict". He was further blamed for the October 7 operation and the drastic security failure "Israel" suffered, and the piece specifically highlighted that he has yet to assume responsibility for the events of October 7. 

Related News

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Judge tosses Trump’s $15bln defamation case against New York Times

Several of Netanyahu's wrongdoings were further emphasized, including the police crackdown on protesters demanding a prisoner exchange deal, the suspension of High Court appointments, the political control attempts certain parties have tried to impose on scientific and cultural establishments, and most notably the large sums of money going to the Haredim community, which according to the authors, does not share the burden of a crumbling economy and security other Israelis have to endure. 

Grouped with the violent fighting in Gaza and the only-increasing death toll that Gaza and the IOF are suffering, Netanyahu still seems adamant about the "authoritarian remaking of Israel" and nonchalant toward anything else, they said. 

But above all else, despite the relentless demands of the settler population for an exchange deal that would bring Israeli captives back safe and sound, Netanyahu was blamed for the obstruction of several agreements that would have fulfilled the demands of his people. 

Clinging to power

Netanyahu has consistently dismissed the majority's demands and clinged to power at the discretion of far-right extremists, Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who would dismantle the government if Netanyahu failed to adhere to their blood-thirsty wishes for the resumption of the war and the establishment of new settlements in the Gaza Strip. 

This, according to the officials, comes at the expense of displaced settlers who were forced to abandon the South amid Hamas' operation and the ongoing war in Gaza, and those who fled the North fearing Hezbollah's rockets on the Palestinian-Lebanese border. 

This has cost the occupation government the people's faith, who are now advocating for the immediate end of the war and snap elections to vote Netanyahu out. 

Theatrics in Congress 

The authors of the brutal critique of Netanyahu's conduct theorized that Netanyahu's appearance before Congress was his chance to appeal to his supporters and boast about the US support he was able to garner despite his known failures. 

The chain reaction would then be ignited when his supporters fall for his theatrics and demand that the war be continued in Gaza, which would further secure his position in government the authors wrote, adding that Netanyahu's Congress address is a blatant nonchalance to the Israelis' "rage and pain", which should push the US administration to revoke its invitation and ask Netanyahu to "stay home".