Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded this morning (Monday) to the storm surrounding his words about the protesters against the legal reform, in which he claimed that "the protesters against me in the US are joining the PLO and Iran, and defaming Israel in the world."
"When the Prime Minister used the word 'companions', he was referring to the fact that while the Prime Minister of Israel will represent the State of Israel at the UN stage, Israeli citizens will demonstrate at the same time as the PLO and BDS supporters - something that has never happened before," Netanyahu clarified. "It is to be hoped that the Israeli demonstrators will take at least a few minutes to demonstrate also against those who deny the right of the State of Israel to exist."
As mentioned, this morning Netanyahu embarked on his first trip to the US since entering his current term, when before boarding the plane he referred to the planned demonstrations against him in front of the United Nations building in New York during his speech at the General Assembly. According to him, "those protesting against me in the US are teaming up with the PLO, Iran, and others, and are defaming Israel in the world. Nothing will surprise me anymore."
Netanyahu's words caused a widespread uproar, as the opposition rushed to attack the prime minister and strengthen the protesters. "There is no person who has destroyed our image in the world more than Netanyahu in recent months. There is nothing that helps Iranians more than the coup d'état of his government," opposition leader Yair Lapid said in response. "His accusations against the patriots of the protest are another proof of a serious disruption in his judgment and reading of reality."
The chairman of the Machane HaMamlachti, Benny Gantz, also said that "Netanyahu's attack, while accusing the demonstrators in the US of colluding with our enemies, is serious and deserves all condemnation. Even if we do not agree on the course of action, we are talking about patriots, lovers of the country. The tremendous damage that Netanyahu is causing to Israeli society with his conduct , not even a thousand flame-throwing speeches at the UN will fix. It's time to stop the coup d'état and put order in the government, instead of blaming the protesters."
The one who chose a less stately language is the chairman of Yisrael Beitenu Avigdor Lieberman, who responded in his own way: "Mr. Prime Minister, once again you lie. The protesters in Israel and around the world are protesting against you and in favor of the State of Israel. "The one who joined Iran and the PLO is none other than you, you yourself Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu, you are the one who is dismantling Israeli society from the inside, you are the one who ruins the best of our sons and daughters and you are the one who proves to all of us every day that you only act in accordance with your personal interests, even if it means that the country will burn down."