UPDATE - Netanyahu wants anti-Iran 'Abraham Alliance,' reiterates demand for 'total victory' in Gaza

ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM NETANYAHU

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used an address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday to urge the creation of a regional anti-Iranian security pact that he dubbed the "Abraham Alliance."

Netanyahu told lawmakers that the world saw "a glimpse" of his proposed pact on April 14 when Arab states and the US intercepted a slew of Iranian missiles and drones bound for Israel that were launched by Tehran in retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack on Iran's Consulate in Damascus that killed senior military officials.

The alliance would be a "natural extension" of normalization agreements known as the "Abraham Accords" that Israel brokered with Arab states during the Trump administration, said Netanyahu.

"All countries that are at peace with Israel and all those countries who will make peace with Israel should be invited to join this alliance," he added in the address that drew repeated ovations from lawmakers with the notable exception of Rep. Rashida Tlaib who held up a two-sided black and white sign that read: "War criminal" and "Guilty of Genocide."

Turning to his war against the besieged Gaza Strip, Netanyahu reiterated his demands for "total victory," saying Israel would not stop until it is achieved.

"Give us the tools we need, and we will finish the job," said Netanyahu.

"Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, and its rule in Gaza, and bring all our hostages home," he said. "That’s what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less."

- 'Iran's useful idiots'

Netanyahu also thanked President Joe Biden, saying "I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel, and for being, as he says. A proud Zionist. Actually, he says, a proud Irish American Zionist."

Turning to the protests against Israeli attacks on Gaza, the prime minister said that many protesters "choose to stand with evil".

"They stand with Hamas... These protesters stand with them. They should be ashamed of themselves," said Netanyahu, and recalled an assessment of American intelligence that Iran was behind the protest in the US.

"I have a message for these protesters, when the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran's useful idiots," said Netanyahu.

He also took aim at International Criminal Court that said Israel was deliberately cutting off food to the people in Gaza.

"The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has shamefully accused Israel of deliberately starving the people of Gaza. This is utter, complete nonsense," said Netanyahu.

In his remarks, Netanyahu falsely claimed that Israel has enabled more than 40,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza, saying "That’s half a million tons of food. And that’s more than 3,000 calories for every man, woman and child in Gaza. If there are Palestinians in Gaza who aren’t getting enough food, it’s not because Israel is blocking it. It’s because Hamas is stealing it."

However, the UN and international relief groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm at Israeli restrictions on the entry of humanitarian assistance, denials on forward movement once the convoys enter Gaza, and Israel's repeated attacks on convoys as they attempt to make badly-needed deliveries.

The Israeli prime minister also claimed that the lowest casualties are in Rafah.

"Despite all the lies you’ve heard, the war in Gaza has one of the lowest ratios of combatants to non-combatants casualties in the history of urban warfare,” he said. "You want to know where it’s lowest in Gaza? It’s lowest in Rafah."

He also said his vision for the Palestinian enclave is "a demilitarized and de-radicalized Gaza".

"Israel does not seek to resettle Gaza, but for the foreseeable future, we must retain overriding security control there to prevent the resurgence of terror, to ensure that Gaza, never again poses a threat to Israel," said Netanyahu.

Regarding the conflict on the Blue Line with Lebanon's Hezbollah, Netanyahu said Israel prefers to achieve a diplomatic solution, adding: "But let me be clear. Israel will do whatever it must do to restore security to our northern border, and return our people safely to their homes".

"All our enemies should know this. Those who attack Israel will pay a very heavy price. And as we defend ourselves on all fronts, I know that America has our back," said Netanyahu.

The premier also thanked the US for it military assistance and intelligence support.

"We’ve jointly developed some of the most sophisticated weapons on Earth. I choose my words carefully: we’ve jointly developed some of the most sophisticated weapons on Earth, that help protect both our countries. And we also help keep American boots off the ground while protecting our shared interests in the Middle East," he said.

*Servet Gunerigok contributed to the story