JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that rhetoric from Israel’s opposition is being seized upon by antisemites around the world, using a Knesset debate to argue that claims of Israel’s diplomatic collapse are fueling hostile narratives abroad.
Addressing a 40-signature debate titled “The Collapse of Israel’s International Standing,” Netanyahu rejected the premise outright. “The opposition is detached from reality,” he said, insisting Israel remains “the strongest power in the Middle East.” Join our WhatsApp group
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Netanyahu said he is preparing meetings with the prime minister of India and President Donald Trump, and maintains regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin — discussions he described as vital to safeguarding Israel’s security interests, particularly in the north.
He accused opposition members of undermining Israel’s wartime conduct against Hamas, saying they opposed “every action” taken in the conflict. As lawmakers interrupted his remarks, Netanyahu suggested their outbursts reflected political pressure.
“Whoever shouts louder gets a better spot on the list,” he said. When MK Meirav Ben Ari challenged him to call elections, Netanyahu did not respond directly.