I have been going through papers and other items in my parents’ house now that they are both gone. There are things that I have found that I had heard about but never saw and other things that I did not even know about. One of the problems is trying to figure out who is in old photos. It would have been more productive if I had gone through the photos while my mother was still alive. My suggestion is that if you have elderly parents it would be a smart idea to ask them if you can go through their photos with them. I am also very impressed by how organized my mother was even in her nineties. I do not know what happened to me. I clearly did not inherit her organizational skills. It is also interesting to see what they saved. People save what they think is important to keep.
Although it did not come as a surprise, it has been easier to go through the other rooms of the house than my bedroom. It is hard to get rid of your own items, each of which had some use or is from an event in your life. This started at my home, where we got rid of a dresser which my children were using that I had used as a child. I heard the garbage truck come and I saw them take it and crush it. It was replaced by a chest from my parents’ home. Time marches on.
Now to my main topic. One of the complaints that I have heard over the years about Israeli politicians is that they do not know how to speak to an American audience. Prime Minister Netanyahu does not have that problem. His speech before Congress seemed like it was a State of the Union address given by an American president. There were members of the audience whose presence was acknowledged to help support an argument made. I doubt that many minds were changed. Nevertheless, it was an excellent presentation. Like any presentation, there are parts that you may think could have been said differently or arguments that were left out. But looking at it in totality, the speech was well written and presented.
Except for House of Representatives member Rashida Tlaib putting up her silly sign referring to Netanyahu as a war criminal and the other side guilty of genocide, there was little negative reaction from the members of Congress. He was treated better than President Biden at his State of the Union address where he was heckled and booed by some Republicans. It was disappointing that both Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate J.D. Vance were not present. At least they can justify it since they needed to be out campaigning. Important Democrats such as Dick Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip, and Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, did not attend. Pelosi said it was the worst speech she had heard. I guess she forgot about Trump’s State of the Union speech that she ripped up after he finished. It is a good thing that Pelosi is no longer in a leadership position. Hakeem Jefferies, a staunch supporter of Israel, replaced her.
The best advocate for Israel’s conduct was not Netanyahu but the protestors who chanted pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic slogans. At Union Station in Washington D.C., they ripped down American flags and replaced them with Palestinian flags. They also burned an American flag. Protesters spray painted graffiti on a monument to Christopher Columbus in large red letters, warning, “Hamas is coming.” They also clashed with the police. The protesters showed their true colors. They hate Israel and Jews and hate the United States. This was Netanyahu’s argument.
The protestors’ conduct was widely condemned. For example, Vice President Harris issued a statement saying, “Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C., we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric. I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent, and we must not tolerate it in our nation. I condemn the burning of the American flag. That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way. I support the right to peacefully protest, but let’s be clear: Antisemitism, hate and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.”
The Prime Minister during his speech gave thanks to President Biden and former President Trump for various actions they did in support of Israel. He also met with President Biden, Vice-President Harris, and former President Trump. What they discussed behind closed doors is usually more important than any public pronouncement. It is risky to try to guess what was said. As the war against Hamas continues and the war with Hezbollah seems to be heating up in the north, Israel needs all the support it can get from the United States in a bipartisan manner.
Warren S. Hecht is a local attorney. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
