MKs on Left say Netanyahu’s speech proves he’s all talk
Knesset members from the Zionist Union, Meretz and Joint List parties issued sharp criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech Thursday night at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, despite protocol to not besmirch the prime minister when he is abroad.
Zionist Union faction chairman Yoel Hasson said Netanyahu is good at delivering speeches, but when it comes to practical steps on the Palestinian issue, he has not done anything to save Israel from losing its Jewish majority.
His Zionist Union colleague, MK Leah Fadida, added, “While previous prime ministers, including from Likud, sent planes to destroy nuclear facilities in enemy countries, Netanyahu makes do with using them for theatrical performances, proving himself a 10 as a presenter and a zero as a leader.”
Zionist Union MK Salah Saad said the speech proved that he is “all talk, no action.” He said that after a decade of Netanyahu speeches at the UN, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are near Israel’s border in Syria.
Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg said Netanyahu’s address proved he is “isolated and lacking vision.” She said that in such a long speech, he should have found room for an endorsement of the two-state solution.
Joint List chairman Ayman Odeh objected to Netanyahu boasting about equality for Arabs in Israel. Odeh called the speech “a show of lies,” and said Netanyahu “speaks nice and waves signs, but then goes back to his divisive and racist ways.”
Netanyahu received praise from Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett, who said it was a terrific speech, which “revealed [Europe’s] appeasement policies on Iran, the international community’s hypocrisy toward Israel and the right of the Jewish people to its land.”
Former Likud minister Gideon Sa’ar called the speech fantastic, and said it was right for Netanyahu to “go on the diplomatic offensive and reveal sharply and effectively the lies and the weakness of our enemies.”