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Netanyahu's US visit sparks fierce debate among protesters

02:29

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July 26, 2024

While many protesters were angry about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, others said it is important to show support for Israel.

[Video transcript]

Woman: "You are despicable, you are despicable!"
Man: "Everybody hates you."  

Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington is adding fuel to an already tense debate over how Israel is responding to Hamas's  October 7th attack.  

The Israeli Prime Minister met with his American counterpart in the White House — as a heated exchange took place just a few hundred meters away.  

Woman: "Nobody is oppressed, except by Israelis." 
Man: "What Hamas did on October 7th we will never forget." 

Is Netanyahu's visit in this tense atmosphere a good idea?  

Man: "I think it is amazing that Netanyahu and Biden are meeting. To show not only Israel that America stands with them but to show the rest of America the rest of the world, that Ameria stands with Israel."
Man: "Whetether it’s Biden, whether it’s Kamala, whoever it is, we will find a deal, bring the hostages back and end the war. I am an israeli soldier, I don’t want to go back to Gza, I don’t want to back to the border of Lebanon, I want to live my life." 

24 hours earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress in a joint session. Thousands of protesters from very different backgrounds expressed their dissatisfaction with his visit.  

1st Man: "We have almost 200 Jewish Rabbis who spread the message that Natenyahu does not represent who a Jew is. 
2nd Man: "Benjamin Netanyahu is not Jewish, He is a Zionist. Where is his religion?"  
3rd Man: "What he is doing is against Gaza, against Judaism and of course against humanity." 
4th Man: "The fact that there are a lot of Jewish people that absolutely support Palestinians. You could see everyone wearing a red shirt here at the protest is more than likely of Jewish descent. It is a lot less lonely to be quite honest. So I would say it is actually little bit better: Being Jewish and being able to express exactly how I feel."  

During his speech in Congress, Netanyahu made no attempt to address his critics — quite the opposite. He called the protesters "idiots" and tools of Iran and said repeatedly that the protection of Israel is in the US's best interest. 

This is likely the last time Netanyahu and Biden ever meet in the White House. But as the war in Gaza could impact the outcome of the presidential election, Netanyahu will remain a significant political force in the US for the months to come. 

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