Netanyahu's Speech Before the U.S. Congress – July 2024: A Critical Analytical Study

Abstract

This research provides a critical and analytical examination of the political speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the U.S. Congress on July 25, 2024, following the war that erupted on October 7, 2023. The study is structured around four main themes: the civilizational propaganda evident in the speech, the alleged humanitarian claims, the exploitation of historical events to justify Israeli policies, and the promotion of the so-called "Abrahamic Accord."

The analysis reveals that Netanyahu heavily relied on propaganda aimed at eliciting emotional sympathy by invoking historical events such as the Holocaust and the September 11 attacks, drawing parallels to the purported current threat against Israel. The speech portrayed Israel as the defender of global civilization against "barbarism," while neglecting the humanitarian atrocities perpetrated by the occupation forces against the Palestinian people.

The study further uncovers Netanyahu's use of misleading narratives to portray Israel’s humanitarian stance, employing dramatic and often unsubstantiated stories, such as those related to Palestinian captives. Additionally, it addresses the dangers of his advocacy for the "Abrahamic Accord," which is framed as an extension of a political agenda, including the broader geopolitical implications of the so-called "Deal of the Century," aiming to reshape regional religious and political consciousness.

The research concludes that Netanyahu's speech lacked credibility and relied on fact distortion and image manipulation, exposing contradictions in his narratives and positions. It highlights how the speech reflected the fragility of the Israeli stance amid escalating Palestinian resistance and revealed the absence of any genuine vision for achieving peace or resolving the ongoing conflict.