Briefing | Glad-handing and grinding teeth

Will Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to America repair or weaken ties?

He may damage relations with Israel’s indispensable protector

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2015
Photograph: AP
|JERUSALEM and WASHINGTON, DC

RARELY HAS so divisive a figure been so honoured by America’s political class. On July 24th Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, will deliver his fourth address to a joint session of Congress—more than any other foreign leader, including Winston Churchill.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Glad-handing and grinding teeth”

From the July 20th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

How many Ukrainian soldiers have died?

Three charts show the country’s losses

View of the snow-covered Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv, Ukraine

How will Donald Trump handle the war in Ukraine?

And how will Ukraine, Russia and Europe respond?


Elon Musk raises his arms to supporters at a rally in Madison Square Garden, New York

Elon Musk’s transformation, in his own words

Our analysis of 38,000 posts on X reveal a changed man


Elon Musk and Donald Trump seem besotted. Where is their bromance headed?

The precedents are not encouraging

The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think

Most analysts overestimate energy demand and underestimate technological advances

Donald Trump’s victory was resounding. His second term will be, too

Congress is not likely to be much of a constraint on him