It is probably routine for the Congress of the United States of America to offer a platform to war criminals and colonialists. After all, the history of US imperialism has been a constant military assault on countries across the world, deposing non-compliant governments and installing their own, whether in the form of fascist generals in Chilé or totalitarian Royal families in the Middle East.

But offering Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu a State address last week has to rank towards the top  of the list. A statement to the world by the waning super power that overt military might is the final solution to any and all challenges to global US supremacy.

Listen to Netanyahu himself, addressing the leaders of most powerful military nation in human history: “We help keep Americans’ boots off the ground while protecting our shared interests in the Middle East.’

Netanyahu is stating the truth – that Israel/Zionism is an extension of American imperialism. That’s why the US supports Israel like no other country does.. The main US interest in the Middle East is oil.  Getting out of fossil fuels would not just address climate change, it would break the link between energy security and the Middle East, especially as part of the current Israeli illegal invasion of Palestinian territory is for ownership of oil and gas on the land of Gaza and off the Gazan coast.

Israel is a militarised society with conscription for all Israelis into military service when young, trained and ready for active service until they’re old. The constitution they fight for and preserve is based upon Zionist political laws  assuring racial supremacy and privileges for Israeli citizens and open oppression and exploitation of Palestinians and all Arabs, at the centre of the Arab world.

Netanyahu was appealing to the US for continued support for his assault on Gaza, where now more than 185,000 Palestinian civilians are reported to have been killed since October 2023, the majority women and children, in the overwhelming military bombardment of a territory 24 miles by 7 miles across. 

Right now, one-and-a-half million civilians are experiencing homelessness and extreme food insecurity without fresh water or sanitation, and half-a-million are experiencing famine whilst being daily bombed by high-grade munitions. 

Yet Netanyahu received 58 standing ovations by US elected senators and congressmen and now holds the record for the applause of a foreign leader invited to address Congress.

Sure, around half of Congress’ Democrats skip Netanyahu speech, with many lawmakers, particularly progressive Israel critics, explicitly boycotting the event in protest of Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war in Gaza.

And outside, hundreds of thousands rallied to protest against him, jeered and provoked by Netanyahu from the rostrum, blasting the protestors against his foul reception as “Iran’s useful idiots…” as they were pepper sprayed and beaten with batons. He was cheered to the rafters in the House.

This grotesque celebration of horror and genocide will correctly mark the US state and its allies, in the eyes of billions of people throughout the world, as a hostile state. The  International Court of Justice has ruled that its occupation of Palestinian land is ‘unlawful’ and breaches laws concerning apartheid. Netanyahu, despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant pending for the Gaza genocide, can travel under the protection of the US.

And the Western governments haven’t stopped supporting or arming Israel. Parts of combat aircraft and guided missiles, used by Israel to murder Palestinians, are made in Britain. And the new Labour Government aren’t stopping weapons sales to Israel.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu and his far-Right Zionist ministers in Israel remain on the back foot. He was forced to go to Washington as a propaganda initiative. Why? Because millions have actively protested against the assault on Gaza non-stop across the world through the past 9 months and continue to do so. Our protests have forced over 600 major corporations to disinvest from Israeli assets and business collaborations, and has won more than 145 of the World’s 196 countries to openly oppose and condemn Israel’s military colonisation of Palestine. 

We must continue to organise and protest to stop the killing and win Freedom for Palestine. Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israeli goods and trade. The next national demonstration will be in London on Saturday 3rd August. Be there!