Let’s start out with the one thing that is clear: if the solution to the problems of Israel in the Middle East were simple, they would be resolved by now. But in fact, they are more complicated than ever, now that Israel is dealing with the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, and now that Hezbollah, from the north, and the Houtis, from the far south, are attacking the country as well, and threatening what could amount to full scale war.

Let’s continue with another thing that is clear: Bibi Netanyahu is a very controversial fellow in his own country, for many, many, many reasons, with polling showing he is supported by a decisive minority of Israeli voters.

Let’s continue with still a third thing that is clear: Israel’s response in Gaza has (if you believe Hamas figures) killed almost 40,000 and injured more, and has resulted in physical and economic disruption at home, with hundreds in the IDF killed and many more injured.

And one final clear thing: Hamas has shown no signs of giving up and is taking a long view that eventually, if only by numbers, they will succeed.

In the midst of all of this, while the United States has greatly assisted the Israeli war effort, there is much opposition at home, some to the continuation of providing any aid, some to providing aid only under certain conditions that will alleviate the condition of the residents of Gaza. By and large, the further left an American is in his/her politics, the greater likelihood that he/she will at least want strings attached to any additional Israeli aid. Further, those who wish to make further aid contingent, or who want to stop all aid whatsoever, include Jews as well as gentiles.

What to do?

I obviously don’t know what to do, but I think I know what not to do. What not to do is to have invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to give a talk before a joint session of Congress.

In his speech, Mr. Netanyahu said (1) that Israel will win, (2) that no one in Gaza is suffering from a shortage of food, except to the extent Hamas is stealing it, (3) that the IDF is the kindest and most careful army in the world, and (4) when the war is over and Israel declared the winner, Israel will continue to control the borders and finances of Gaza for a significant period of time. In addition, he said that those in this country who protest against Israel are “Iran’s idiots” and those who do so saying they love Israel are the equivalent of those who would say “I love chickens” while transporting them to KFC. As to the 114 or so remaining hostages, when some are talking about a potential deal, all Bibi could say is that he won’t rest until they are all brought home.

In the meantime, the Republicans in both House and Senate applauded him and whooped it up, as if he were the head of the GOP and not the head of a foreign party, Likud. And the Democrats, looking uncomfortable, did not know quite what to do.

Perhaps that was the goal, this election year.

This will be a tough one for Kamala Harris (in fact, for the Harris-Emhoff family). Let’s see how she handles it.

I have two suggestions for the future:

First, no foreign politician should be invited to speak to a joint session of Congress without an invitation approved by the leaders of the majority and minority parties of the Senate and the House. And of course, none should be invited to speak to only one of the two houses.

Second, when a foreign politician speaks, there should be a “no applause” rule. Polite applause when the leader enters the chamber, okay. Appreciative applause after the speech is completed, okay. But that is it. And the foreign leader should not be permitted to bring his own guests as prompts for applause (boy, did all but one of them look uncomfortable). This is a speech, not a show.

Wonder if I am telling it like it is? Look at journalist Anschel Pfeffer’s column on Haaretz: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/FMfcgzQVxlMmPDdLzvJHhNvvPKJpCQCT.

By the way, a lot is being said about Kamala Harris’ absence. Let it be known there was someone else absent: a certain J.D. Vance.