Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke eloquently before a joint session of Congress on 24 July 2024 (18 Tammuz 5784). Putting aside political considerations, the bold underlined statements are some of key lessons learned that may have resonated with people. The bullet points are some of the important quotes from the Prime Minister’s speech.

1. The G-d-given homeland of the Jewish people is clear and unambiguous:
   “For nearly four thousand years, the land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. It’s always been our home; it will always be our home.”
   “They call Israel a colonialist state. Don’t they know that the Land of Israel is where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob prayed, where Isaiah and Jeremiah preached and where David and Solomon ruled?”
   “That’s Jerusalem, our eternal capital never to be divided again.”
2. The Jewish people and the heroes who fight for us are strong, resilient, and honorable:
   “My friends, these are the soldiers of Israel—unbowed, undaunted, unafraid. As the Bible says, “עם כלביא יקום” —they shall rise like lions. They’ve risen like lions, the lions of Judah, the lions of Israel.”
   “The men and women of the IDF come from every corner of Israeli society, every ethnicity, every color, every creed, left and right, religious and secular. All are imbued with the indomitable spirit of the Maccabees, the legendary Jewish warriors of antiquity.”
   “These heroes here today, the heroic soldiers of Israel, should not be condemned for how they’re conducting the war in Gaza. They should be commended for it.”
3. The Jewish people forever reject the negative stereotypes and falsehoods of the past no matter how much others may try to perpetuate them:
   “At his son’s funeral Yechiel said this: “If the State of Israel had not been established after the Holocaust, the image engraved in our collective memory would have been the photograph of that helpless Jewish boy in the Warsaw Ghetto holding his hands up in the air with Nazi riffles pointed at him. But because of the birth of Israel…because of the courage of soldiers like my son Moshe, the Jewish people are no longer helpless in the face of our enemies.””
   “Now, just as malicious lies were levelled for centuries at the Jewish people, malicious lies are now being levelled at the Jewish state…The outrageous slanders that paint Israel as racist and genocidal are meant to delegitimize Israel, to demonize the Jewish State and to demonize Jews everywhere. And no wonder, …we’ve witnessed an appalling rise of antisemitism in America and around the world.”
4. Defeating the enemies of the Jewish people must be the common goal of not just the Jewish people but all people:
   “Whenever and wherever we see the scourge of antisemitism, we must unequivocally condemn it and resolutely fight it, without exception.”
   “Defeating our brutal enemies requires both courage and clarity. Clarity begins by knowing the difference between good and evil. Yet incredibly many anti-Israel protesters, many choose to stand with evil.”
   “Our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory.”
   “Today, as Israel fights on the frontline of civilization…Give us the tools faster, and we’ll finish the job faster.”
5. Israel is a symbol of light, strength, and moral clarity for Jewish people and the world:
   “Despite these times of upheaval, I’m hopeful about the future. I’m hopeful about Israel because my people, the Jewish people, emerged from the depths of hell, from dispossession and genocide, and against all odds we restored our sovereignty in our ancient homeland, we built a powerful and vibrant democracy, a democracy that pushes the boundaries of innovation for the betterment of all humanity.”
   “And we will continue to work with the United States and our Arab partners to transform a troubled region, from a backwater of oppression, poverty and war into a thriving oasis of dignity, prosperity and peace.”
   “Working together, I’m confident that our two nations will vanquish the tyrants and terrorists who threaten us both. As Israel’s prime minister, I promise you this: no matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult the road ahead, Israel will not relent. Israel will not bend. We will defend our land. We will defend our people. We will fight until we achieve victory. Victory of liberty over tyranny, victory of life over death, victory of good over evil. That’s our solemn commitment.”

DSS/25 July 2024/19 Tammuz 5784 v.1