In one of the most striking claims of his UN address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that the world leaders who publicly condemn his actions privately thank him. “They tell me how much they value Israel’s superb intelligence services,” he told the sparse assembly, without offering any evidence.
This assertion of a secret consensus stood in jarring contrast to the public reality of his reception. Over 100 diplomats had just walked out, and even the US and UK delegations were staffed by junior officials. Thousands were also protesting his presence on the streets of New York.
The claim appeared to be an attempt to delegitimize public criticism and paint a picture of a shadow diplomacy where his hardline approach is secretly appreciated. This narrative allows him to dismiss visible opposition as mere political posturing.
The rest of his speech was equally defiant, as he vowed to “finish the job” in Gaza and condemned the recognition of Palestine as “insane.” The claim of private praise, however, added a new layer to his strategy of constructing an alternate reality in the face of overwhelming opposition.
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