only the people who want their money for re-election will clap! like trained seals *arf* *arf* and maybe those people will throw dead fish into the legislature's open mouth (metaphorically speaking, I think technically they write checks)
so I'm saying wayyy more than 25. a majority? I bet a majority clap and keep clapping. that's what makes jingoism so silly
The countries mentioned received multiple invites. I have no interest listening to Netanyahu or other speakers and counting ovations. Apparently neither did many congressmen who didn't show up and listen to Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has received multiple invites because he's been a leader on and off for a long time. There have been a handful of different leaders of Korea, India and a couple from Japan who spoke. A few months ago the Japanese leader received quite a few standing ovations.
Netanyahu is going to cut a deal with Hamas soon. He may even announce a deal during his address to congress. The war in Gaza has gone on too long and Israel is on the verge of a widening conflict with Hezbollah and the Houthis. A wider conflict in the Middle East would require the US to get more involved as Israel is stretched too thin right now. Trump does not want to inherit a war in the Middle East as his base, while strongly supporting Israel, does not want to see US troops involved in another war in the Middle East. Much of Trump's base are people in rural communities who either served in the Gulf war (W's second Gulf War) or Afghanistan (or both) or have family/friends who served. They do not want US forces involved in any conflicts unless the US is directly attacked. So, Netanyahu knows that he needs to cut a deal with Hamas asap.