Will Netanyahu be safe in Washington? Massive protests expected as Secret Service chief resigns amid near-catastrophic failures

WASHINGTON, DC — Please pray without ceasing for the safety and security of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his historic and high stakes visit to the American capital this week. 

While most Americans – and especially Evangelical Christians – love and support Israel, anti-Israel tensions in the United States have never been higher since the October 7th 'earthquake' began. 

Massive anti-Israel, anti-Netanyahu, and pro-Palestinian protests – involving tens of thousands of angry demonstrators – are expected in Washington as Netanyahu, his wife Sara, and their team move about the city. 

Media reports indicate that the U.S. Secret Service, Capitol Police, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are significantly increasing their presence in Washington to make sure nothing goes wrong.

CONFIDENCE IN THE SECRET SERVICE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW

Will their efforts be enough?

The Iranian regime would love to assassinate Netanyahu, especially on American soil.

So would Iran’s terror proxies.

There are, no doubt, lone wolves out there who have their own reasons for trying to kill Israel’s democratically elected leader, even if not directly financed or encouraged by Iran or other radical Islamists.

I’ve never worried about Netanyahu’s safety in the U.S. before.

But my confidence in the Secret Service – and that of many people – is at an all-time low.

THE AGENCY’S NEAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN PENNSYLVANIA 

After all, the world’s premier executive protection agency recently failed to stop Thomas Crooks – a 20-year -old psychopathic, would-be assassin – from getting to an elevated position and opening fire with an AR-15 rifle at former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on live television at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump was shot in the head – specifically in the right ear – but by the grace of God was not killed. 

It was a near catastrophic disaster.

If Trump had not suddenly moved his head, or the bullet had been a millimeter to the right, the GOP presidential nominee very likely would have been murdered.

BREAKING: SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR RESIGNS 

This was the single worst failure of the Secret Service since John Hinckley, Jr. opened fire on then-President Ronald Reagan with a handgun outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington in March 1981, hitting and very nearly killing Reagan. 

On Tuesday morning, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned.

Finally. 

This was a good development, but it was not nearly fast enough.

She should have resigned the day after the attack on Trump.

Cheatle has been under intensifying – and completely justified – criticism since the assassination attempt.

She’s also been under blistering criticism for stonewalling Congress, refusing to answer questions or provide crucial details during sworn testimony to a Congressional Oversight Committee on Monday regarding how the Secret Service failed to keep Trump better protected. 

During the Congressional hearing, Cheatle finally admitted that the attempt by Thomas Crooks on Trump’s life was “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.”

But she gave no indication that she was going to resign over it.

Furious with her stonewalling and refusal to take personal responsibility, several Members of Congress vowed to impeach Cheatle and bring perjury charges against her.

MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REMAIN

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been leading the charge for the past week for Cheatle to resign.

While Johnson expressed satisfaction that Cheatle had finally stepped down, he also called for a more thorough investigation into the agency’s failures and how these can be prevented in the future.

I thank God for the bravery of Trump’s personal protective details that rushed to the stage in Butler and shielded his body from further bullets.

And for the counter-sniper who took out Crooks with a single shot.

But there are so many unanswered questions.

Why was Trump allowed to take the stage when the Secret Service knew there was a threatening person on a roof nearby?

Why weren’t agents – or at least local police – positioned on that roof and around that building to secure it?

Why didn’t the counter-sniper take the shot before Crooks opened fire?

Why did the Secret Service turn down multiple requests by the Trump campaign for more agents when political tensions in the country have been skyrocketing and the threat level has been worsening?

Why did the Secret Service turn down multiple requests for more agents amid intelligence reports that the Iranian regime wants to assassinate Trump?

PLEASE PRAY FOR NETANYAHU THIS WEEK

All of these and many more need urgent and thorough answers.

But the big question this week is this: Will Prime Minister Netanyahu truly be safe during his visit to Washington? 

Let’s pray without ceasing the answer is a resounding “yes.”

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Joel C. Rosenberg