Yesterday, in a roughly hour-long speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress. It was his fourth time doing so as the head of the Jewish state and the first time since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack.

With anti-Israel protesters outside Congress, and despite roughly half of Democrat lawmakers boycotting his speech, Netanyahu delivered a fiery and forceful reminder of why Israel is fighting this war against Islamic terrorism — and why not just Israel’s security is at stake, but ours as well.

“In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts Israel, America and our Arab friends. This is not a clash between civilizations, it’s a clash between barbarism and civilizations. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life," Netanyahu began. "For the forces of civilization to triumph, Israel and America must stand together. We will win.”

He then reminded Congress of the barbarism Hamas unleashed upon innocent Israelis on that terrible day. “These monsters,” he said, “they raped women, they beheaded men, they burned babies alive, killed parents in front of their parents, and children in front of their parents. They dragged 255 people, both living and dead, into the dark dungeons of Gaza.”

He noted that Israel had freed 135 of these hostages, pointing out that one of these individuals was in the gallery sitting near his wife. Netanyahu then proceeded to tell the story of Israel’s ongoing effort to rescue the remaining hostages, which included a number of American citizens.

Netanyahu thanked America, including Joe Biden, for standing with Israel, noting the long friendship between the two nations. He also dispelled the false notion that this war was white Jewish “oppressors” against an “oppressed” ethnic minority of Palestinians, as he pointed out the broad ethnic and religious makeup of soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces who have embraced the call to defend Israel and her people against Hamas’s genocidal aims.

Eventually recognizing the anti-Israel protests that have sprung up across the U.S. since Israel’s response to the Hamas attack, Netanyahu said, “I have a message for these protesters. When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots.”

Netanyahu continued: “Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming gays for Gaza. They might as well hold up signs saying, ‘Chickens for KFC.’ These protesters chant ‘From the river to the sea.’ But many don’t have a clue what river and what sea they’re talking about.”

Congress’s most virulent Jew-hater, Rashida Tlaib, actually chose to attend the speech rather than join other Democrats in boycotting it. While doing so, she registered a silent protest by holding up a sign that read, “War Criminal.” It was clearly aimed at Netanyahu, whom she has called upon to be tried for war crimes. Tellingly, she’s made no such demands for the leaders of Hamas.

Netanyahu did request more military aid from the U.S., and he offered this rationale: “We help keep Americans’ boots off the ground while protecting our shared interests in the Middle East. I deeply appreciate America’s support, including in this current war. But this is an exceptional moment. Fast-tracking U.S. military aid can dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East.”

Harkening back to World War II and Winston Churchill’s appeal to Americans, he said, “Today, as Israel fights on the front line of civilization, I too appeal to America. Give us the tools faster and we’ll finish the job faster.”

It was a moving speech from a strong leader. It was also a timely reminder of the fight for the values that built the West and brought the individual freedoms we all should cherish, but too often take for granted.