| | | | |  | | By Matt Berg and Eric Bazail-Eimil | |  Speaking before Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of smearing Israel in the media so that Israel would be “pressured to end the war before it's won,” he said. | Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images | With help from Miles J. Herszenhorn, Daniel Lippman, Joseph Gedeon and Phelim Kine Subscribe here | Email Matt | Email Eric One big takeaway from Israeli Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU’s speech in front of Congress an hour ago: Israel’s war in Gaza is unlikely to come to an end soon, and White House-backed cease-fire talks could be in peril. As Matt, ANTHONY ADRAGNA and NAHAL TOOSI report, Netanyahu also blamed the Islamist regime in Iran for Israel’s woes, sharply criticized U.S. protesters opposing the war, and spoke of a future Gaza that is “demilitarized and deradicalized.” He called on the United States to continue its support, saying that Israel is on the frontlines of a battle against terrorism that affects American citizens: “When we stand together, something very simple happens: we win, they lose,” he said. Netanyahu also thanked former President DONALD TRUMP for “all the things he did for Israel” during his first term in office, underscoring the Israeli leader’s efforts to maintain close relations with whoever becomes the next U.S. president. Earlier in the address, he thanked President JOE BIDEN for coming to Israel “to stand with us during our darkest hour, a visit that will never be forgotten.” Netanyahu is set to meet with Biden and Vice President KAMALA HARRIS on Thursday before visiting Trump in Florida on Friday. The Israeli leader spoke at a time of unusual political tumult in the United States — with Biden having dropped out of the 2024 race just days earlier and Trump having survived an assassination attempt the week prior to that. He also spoke amid ongoing tensions over Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas militants in Gaza. Many feel that Biden should be tougher with Israel in addressing mass civilian casualties and widespread hunger crippling the Gaza Strip. More than 50 Democrats in Congress skipped the speech in protest. Netanyahu accused Hamas of smearing Israel in the media so that Israel would be “pressured to end the war before it's won,” he said. Speaking to receptive lawmakers, Netanyahu made clear: “I want to assure you, no matter what pressure is brought to bear, I will never allow that to happen.” Netanyahu is facing immense pressure to secure a deal for a cease-fire in Gaza soon. Opposition leader BENNY GANTZ, a former member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, accused the prime minister of intentionally delaying the deal, telling Netanyahu to “put your money where your mouth is.” Rep. NANCY PELOSI (D-Calif.), who skipped the address, slammed the speech in a statement. “Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation in the House Chamber today was by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States." While the far-right Israeli leader received one of the world’s largest platforms, lawmakers and activists swarmed Capitol Hill throughout the day to counter his message. Prominent organizers on the Hill included AZIZ ABU SARAH, a Palestinian whose brother died while being held in an Israeli prison, and MAOZ INON, an Israeli whose parents were killed by Hamas on Oct. 7. “We need to work toward a resolution, we need an end to this conflict, we need new leadership,” Abu Sarah told NatSec Daily in between meetings on the Hill. There are a growing number of voices in Congress who “are coming to understand that supporting Netanyahu is not supporting Israel,” he added. Read: Biden expected to take tougher tone with Netanyahu in high-stakes meeting by our own JONATHAN LEMIRE
| | | | Live briefings, policy trackers, and procedural, industry, and people intelligence from POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy this election cycle. Secure your seat. | | | | | | | | NEW RAIDS IN GAZA: Hours before Netanyahu’s address, the Israeli military launched new raids inside Gaza early this morning, per Reuters’ NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI and MOHAMMAD SALEM. Israel’s new attacks on Gaza destroyed homes in southern Gaza and displaced thousands of people, local residents told Reuters. Gaza health officials now say that since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Israel has killed some 39,000 Palestinians, though they don’t differentiate between militants and civilians. A WORTHWHILE DEAL? China brokering a deal between Palestinian factions on Tuesday is a productive development, a key negotiator told our own JOSEPH GEDEON, though some Western media reports somewhat shrugged off the agreement. MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI, Palestinian National Initiative party secretary general, was among the 14 Palestinian political leaders who sealed the deal in Beijing. Beyond sidestepping U.S. and Israeli influence over governance, he says the accord could help revitalize Palestinian democracy. “It is about creating a unified Palestinian government to prevent separation of the West Bank from Gaza and to block U.S.-Israeli plans to create a collaborative Palestinian structure under Israeli control,” Barghouti told Joseph, when asked how it differs from previous U.S.-led efforts. “The agreement should open the road for future elections.” The deal, bringing together rival factions Fatah and Hamas and other Palestinian groups, calls for the formation of a unified government overseeing the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. It represents a significant shift from previous U.S.-led peace efforts and adds another layer to China's growing influence in Middle East diplomacy. The agreement, however, faces immediate challenges. Israel has already rejected any proposal that gives Hamas or the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority governing power. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BLINKEN: We’re learning new details about Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN’s upcoming swing through Asia — and recommend that America’s top diplomat have a good neck pillow on standby. At an event hosted by the American Enterprise Institute this morning, Assistant Secretary of State DAN KRITENBRINK walked through Blinken’s crowded schedule for his trip to Laos for a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers and a later visit to Tokyo on his way back to Washington. Blinken, Kritenbrink explained, will be holding six official meetings with Japanese, South Korean, Philippine, Singaporean and Mongolian officials during his visits to Laos and Tokyo, including defense-related trilaterals. In between Laos and Tokyo, Blinken will also be stopping in Hanoi to attend the funeral of Vietnamese General Secretary NGUYEN PHU TRONG, who died last week. IT’S WEDNESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at mberg@politico.com and ebazail@politico.com, and follow us on X at @mattberg33 and @ebazaileimil. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130, @ErinBanco, @reporterjoe, @JGedeon1 and @mherszenhorn.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Bringing every domain closer, no matter the distance.
Today’s battlespace has no room for miscommunication. At Lockheed Martin, we’re building the strongest communication network possible, no matter where the battle lines are drawn. Defense tech you can count on when every second counts. Learn more. | | | | | KELLY TAKING NAMES: Sen. MARK KELLY (D-Ariz.) tore into Republican Vice President nominee Sen. c today, saying Vance would “abandon” Ukraine in favor of Russia, our own JOE GOULD reports. “It’s pretty clear to me you’ve got JD Vance who wants to totally abandon Ukraine, and you’ve got Donald Trump who has been in the past rather pro-Russia and leaned in with Vladimir Putin in ways I would never expect the president to do,” said Kelly, a contender to be Vice President KAMALA HARRIS’ 2024 running mate. He added: “We have a serious choice to make, and I’d be really concerned about what those guys would do to abandon an ally in favor of an adversary. And that would be a much more dangerous world.” ANGLO-GERMAN ALLIANCE TAKE TWO: Britain’s new government is deepening military ties with Germany in the face of continued fears that former President DONALD TRUMP would abandon Ukraine if elected in November, our own JOSHUA POSANER, NETTE NÖSTLINGER and HENRY DONOVAN report. British Defense Minister JOHN HEALEY signed a defense cooperation pact with his German counterpart BORIS PISTORIUS at the Bendlerblock ministry complex in Berlin. The deal commits both sides to ramp up industrial coordination and joint operations. Healey said the new pact, signed during a whistle stop tour of Europe with stops in France, Poland and Estonia, will "kickstart a deep, new defense relationship" between London and Berlin. Berlin is also making its own moves to thwart Trump-related disruptions. German Chancellor OLAF SCHOLZ, who previously defended Biden’s political fortunes, praised Vice President Harris today as a “competent and experienced" politician, emphasizing she could potentially beat Trump in November. However, Scholz stopped short of endorsing Harris.
| | CROWDSTRIKE’S BIG OOPSIE: Cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike acknowledged today that it failed to properly vet the defective software update that sparked a global IT outage last week, our own JOHN SAKELLARIADIS reports (for Pros!). The acknowledgment came in a new post-mortem from the company that revealed how the firm inadvertently grounded thousands of flights, paralyzed some hospitals and snarled millions of Windows computers Friday. Moving forward, CrowdStrike also promised to implement more rigorous software testing procedures. Still, the admission confirms early speculation about what went awry and is likely to stoke congressional anger toward CrowdStrike at a delicate moment on Capitol Hill. At least the company is offering $10 UberEats apology gift cards…
| | | |   | | | | | TRANSATLANTIC VULNERABILITIES: NATO is working through how to fix Europe’s creaking defenses and finance the investments needed to plug gaping holes, Reuters’ SABINE SIEBOLD and MATTHIAS WILLIAMS report. Last year, NATO leaders agreed to plans for the biggest overhaul in three decades of the alliance’s defensive capabilities. Now, leaders are analyzing how they can address shortages in air defenses and long-range missiles, troop numbers, ammunition and a lack of secure digital communications on the battlefield. European leaders are wary of the potential backlash they may experience if they have to make difficult decisions between anticipatory defense spending and social services to alleviate Europe’s unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.
| | BACKING BIDEN: Top Senate Democrats focused on national security called on Biden to raise issues about violence in the occupied West Bank directly to Netanyahu in a letter to the White House ahead of the prime minister’s speech. “There are some in Israel, including members of the current government, that do not see peace, safety, and dignity for Palestinians as integral to Israel’s security, and who undermine the future of a two-state outcome,” the chairs of the Foreign Relations Committee, Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence wrote in the letter. Biden must make clear that “such violent acts do not make Israel or Israelis safer, and that the United States will continue to address these acts, including through sanctions,” they added. NO MORE DRONING ON: The man who tried to assassinate former President DONALD TRUMP reportedly used a drone from Chinese company DJI to surveil the rally site before the shooting, which bolsters efforts in Congress to enact a ban on Chinese drones, Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.) told our DANIEL LIPPMAN. The Chinese Communist Party “totally controls DJI and can get every bit of data collected by these devices, which means Communist China had a drone over a Trump rally while the USSS did not,” Scott said. He’s the lead Senate sponsor of the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would prohibit DJI and other Chinese companies from having their products licensed to be sold in the U.S. for posing what he has called “an unacceptable risk” to national security. Spokespeople for the Secret Service and DJI didn’t respond to NatSec Daily’s requests for comment.
| | | | The space economy is already woven into our lives in ways we don't always appreciate, creating a global backbone for communications, media, data, science and defense. It's also becoming an increasingly competitive zone among nations - and a venue for complex and important public-private partnerships. Join POLITICO on July 30 for a conversation about what Washington needs to understand is at stake – which sectors of the global economy see their growth arc in space, and what the role of government leaders is in both growing and regulating the explosion of orbital ideas. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | ANOTHER GEORGIAN NIGHTMARE: An alleged plot to assassinate top officials in Georgia’s ruling party has been uncovered, our own GABRIEL GAVIN reports, amid growing concerns over the future of democracy in the South Caucasus nation. The State Security Service of Georgia said it had opened an investigation into “the preparation of a terrorist attack and conspiracy to overthrow the government of the state.” The plan, it claimed, had been hatched by former government officials, likely referring to those who served under the previous government. One target was BIDZINA IVANISHVILI, a billionaire business tycoon and former prime minister who founded the ruling Georgian Dream party. Several Georgians who had traveled to Ukraine to fight with the armed forces and defend the country against Russia’s invasion have been detained for questioning as part of the investigation, local media reported.
| | FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — LANE BODIAN is now principal deputy assistant secretary of defense in the legislative affairs shop at the Pentagon, Lippman has learned. Bodian most recently was deputy assistant secretary of defense in that office and has previously worked for Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER. — BRIDGET BEAN will be taking over as the executive director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency starting in August, John also reports (for Pros!). Bean currently serves as assistant director for integrated operations at the agency, and is taking over from BRANDON WALES, who announced he is stepping down from the position earlier this week. — Former Deputy Maltese Prime Minister CHRIS FEARNE is out of the running to be a European Union commissioner, our own RORY O’NEILL reports.
| | — KAREN ATTIAH, The Washington Post: The first clean-up job for Harris is Biden’s horrible Gaza policy — DIANE FOLEY, Just Security: Since JAMES FOLEY’s death, a ‘moral awakening’ in America on hostages held abroad — MITRE Corporation: Improving U.S. space capabilities in integrated deterrence
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Clear insight means stronger foresight.
When threats come from anywhere, you have to be able to communicate everywhere. Lockheed Martin’s cross-domain connectivity is key to keeping every mission on track. Learn more. | | | | | — The Atlantic Council, 8:30 a.m.: Shaping the global economy: From food security to digital transformation. — The Henry L. Stimson Center, 9 a.m.: Mapping legacies of war and their ongoing impact through data. — The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, 1:30 p.m.: Should Washington revive nuclear diplomacy with Pezeshkian’s Iran? — The National Press Club, 2 p.m.: Discussion about “the vital importance of journalism and freedom of expression in maintaining democratic societies.” — The Middle East Policy Council, 2 p.m.: Conflict in the Red Sea: The role of great power actors. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2 p.m.: The future of U.S. nuclear arms control policy. Thanks to our editor, Rosie Perper, who always loses. We win. Thanks to our producer, Gregory Svirnovskiy, who leads us to victory every day. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
