Washington, July 25 (RHC)-- During his speech to a special joint session of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized anti-war demonstrations across the U.S. and accused Iran of funding those protests. 

"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 said.

"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."

Among those in the chamber was Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Israel's harshest critic in the House of Representatives.  Tlaib has called for Netanyahu to be arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC).  She staged a silent protest for much of his speech, holding a double-sided sign that read "GUILTY OF GENOCIDE" on one side and "WAR CRIMINAL" on the other.

The Michigan congresswoman has been a vocal critic of Israel’s genocidal war of aggression on Gaza and is the only Palestinian-American in the U.S. Congress. 

In a post on X after the speech she wrote: "The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.  Palestinians will not be erased.  Solidarity with all those outside of these walls in the streets protesting and exercising their right to dissent."