In an interview with The Economist, PM Netanyahu vows to secure Israel’s future, restore its global standing, fight “propaganda," reassess US aid, and confront threats from Iran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview to The Economist, as he prepares to lead the Likud Party into a general election for the 12th time, saying his motivation remains unchanged. “As long as I believe that I can secure Israel’s future, to which I’ve devoted my life, both as a soldier and as a politician, as a statesman, then I’ll do so," he stated.
A major focus for Netanyahu is restoring Israel’s international standing after two years of war in Gaza, which left Israel facing harsh criticism abroad. He argued in the interview that Israel is facing a coordinated disinformation campaign. “I’d like to do everything I can to fight the propaganda war waged against us," he said, adding, “Basically, we’ve been using cavalry against F‑35s, because they’ve flooded the social networks with the fake bots and many other things.
Netanyahu said Israel is being held to an unreasonable standard. “I doubt that Churchill could pursue World War Two if people saw what happened there," he said. “You’re holding this democracy, this beleaguered democracy, to an impossible standard." He also linked the criticism to historic antisemitism, saying, “In the Middle Ages we were poisoning the wells…The vilifications that were delivered on Jewish people are now delivered on to Jewish state." He expressed hope that a ceasefire in Gaza would reduce international hostility. “The minute the intense fighting stops," he said, “then the focus of international media and the horrible reporting…dissipates." (Read More)
