Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referenced US President Joe Biden's Irish American roots twice while in the US this week.
“President Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years," Netanyahu said in his address on Wednesday before a special joint meeting of US Congress.
“I want to thank him for half a century of friendship with Israel and for being, as he says, ‘a proud Zionist.’
“Actually, he says, ‘a proud Irish American Zionist.’”
These remarks were met with applause.
Netanyahu, who an International Criminal Court prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant for in relation to "war crimes" in Palestine, was invited to address US Congress by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on May 31.
According to Politico earlier on Wednesday, more than 50 members of Congress had publicly indicated plans to boycott or not attend Netanyahu's address. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters converged on Washington on Wednesday to condemn the Israeli Prime Minister's visit, the Associated Press reported.
On Thursday, Netanyahu, addressing the press next to Biden in The White House, repeated his "Irish American Zionist" description of the President.
"From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the State of Israel."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin @Netanyahu: "From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel." pic.twitter.com/8kDq9D3D4F
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 25, 2024
Indeed, Biden regularly touts his Irish American roots and has publicly referred to himself as a Zionist on multiple occasions, but it is unclear if he has publicly referred to himself as a “proud Irish American Zionist.”
During an interview with Complex's Speedy Morman on July 12, Biden was asked why his and the United States' support for Israel is so strong.
The President replied: "If there weren't an Israel, every Jew in the world would be at risk. And so, there's a need for it to be strong and a need for Israel to have, after World War II, the ability for Jews to have a place that was their own.
"You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. And a Zionist is about whether or not Israel is a safe haven for Jews because of their history of how they've been persecuted."
In the same interview, Biden defended providing weapons to Israel, stating that he approved "defensive weapons, I denied them offensive weapons." He added: "I made it real clear, they cannot use weapons that we provide to use in civilian areas."
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as of July 22, at least 39,006 Palestinians have been reportedly killed and another 89,818 Palestinians have been reportedly injured in the Gaza Strip since October 7.
Biden's equal embrace of his Irish roots and Zionism has drawn considerable criticism in Ireland in recent months. In November, a mural of Biden in Co Mayo was sprayed with 'Genocide Joe' graffiti. An open letter urging Irish citizens to revoke their symbolic support of Biden has drawn more than 20,000 signatures since December. Ahead of St. Patrick's Day this year, there were widespread calls for Irish politicians to boycott the annual engagements at the White House. Last month, a petition was launched to take down the mural of Biden in Co Mayo.
In perhaps the most stark difference between Ireland and the US, Ireland formally recognized the State of Palestine in May. Including Ireland, 145 out of the 193 UN member states have now recognized a Palestinian state - the US is not among them.
After Ireland's formal recognition, questions arose about the implications it might have on the relationship between Ireland and the US.
While some Irish people are critical of Biden, Israeli officials have been, in turn, critical of Ireland. The Israeli Foreign Minister has launched fierce, sometimes bizarre, criticisms of Ireland, and has accused Ireland of 'bolstering the terrorist monster' by recognizing Palestine.
Netanyahu delivered his address in Congress on Wednesday afternoon just a few days after Biden announced he was standing down from the 2024 Presidential election.
Biden's Vice President Kamala Harris, who has now become the presumptive Democratic nominee for this year's presidential election, did not attend Netanyahu's address on Wednesday as she was in Indianapolis for a pre-scheduled event.
With Harris becoming the presumptive nominee, questions surrounding her position on Israel have begun to arise.
Harris, whose husband Douglas Emhoff is Jewish, has aligned with Biden's supportive stance on Israel but did emerge as the first member of the Biden administration to publicly call for a ceasefire.
She said in March: "Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table."
What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating, and our common humanity compels us to act.
Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks. pic.twitter.com/mst8N9HxKa
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 3, 2024
Later, in May, just three days after Ireland formally recognized Palestine, Biden unveiled what he called "a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages." Taoiseach Simon Harris afterward urged Israel and Hamas to accept the plan.
Biden and Harris were each due to meet with Netanyahu separately on Thursday.
On Wednesday, ahead of the meetings, a senior administration official at the White House said: "...I think the message [Biden and Harris] are sending to the Prime Minister tomorrow is that we’re completely aligned; it’s time to do all we can to close the hostage deal, get the hostages home.
"And also, we as an administration will continue to do all we possibly can to continue to support Israel’s self-defense against Iran, Hezbollah, all the threats ... and the Houthis and everything else. "
The official added: "Between the President and Vice President, the Israelis will hear full alignment."
The White House Press Secretary said Biden and Netanyahu will "discuss developments in Gaza and progress towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal and the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, including countering Iran’s threats to Israel and the broader region."
Meanwhile, an aide told the Wall Street Journal that Harris is expected to tell Netanyahu “it is time for the war to end in a way where Israel is secure, all hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can enjoy their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination.”
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