Netanyahu Misled & Lied To US Congress

·52 min·5 clips

Israel bombs a Gaza school, killing 30 children, while Congress fetes Netanyahu.

The episode opens with hosts Jess Ghannam and Jamal Dajani introducing breaking news: Israel bombed a school in Gaza, killing 30 Palestinian children, while the U.S. Congress was celebrating Netanyahu's visit. They also mention an unconfirmed attack in the occupied Golan Heights and discuss Kamala Harris as the Democratic presumptive nominee. The show features an interview with reporter Phil Pasquini, who covered protests in Washington, D.C., against Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress. Pasquini interviews demonstrators from South Florida who traveled over 17 hours on a bus sponsored by Jewish Voices for Peace, motivated by opposition to genocide in Gaza. He describes the protest demographics, with an estimated 5,000 people, mostly aged 20s to 40s, and diverse groups including Palestinian youth and Jewish activists. Pasquini notes media focus on fringe elements like flag-burning, while most protesters were orderly. He discusses police use of pepper spray and flash grenades. The hosts and Pasquini analyze Netanyahu's speech, criticizing it as a lecture full of lies, such as denying starvation in Gaza despite UN reports of 96% food insecurity. They mention over 50 standing ovations from Congress, with many Democrats boycotting and seats filled by guests to create a full appearance. The episode touches on the International Criminal Court's warrant for Netanyahu's arrest and accusations of anti-Semitism against Jewish protesters. It shifts to U.S. politics, with Pasquini expressing support for Kamala Harris as a counter to Donald Trump, despite her low initial polling. The hosts then return to Gaza, detailing the school bombing and criticizing U.S. policy under Biden and Harris for enabling Israel's actions. They discuss a leaked green light for Israel to attack Hezbollah, linked to an attack in the Golan Heights that killed Druze children, with Hezbollah denying involvement. The episode concludes with hosts dismissing Harris's statement on Palestinian suffering as insincere, asserting no policy change from Biden.

As heard by us

A forceful reading of Netanyahu's congressional reception, protest rhetoric, and the politics of Gaza.

Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal reads Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress through the language surrounding it: the applause, the accusations of antisemitism, and the charge that protesters are being used by Iran.

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Why you'd press play

You want to hear Netanyahu's congressional applause collide with Gaza, protest, and the packaging of Kamala Harris.

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