Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was harshly criticized Monday morning for saying anti-judicial reform protesters were "joining forces with the PLO and Iran" in harming Israel.
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"The protesters have made blocking roads a normal event, refusal [to serve in the military] normal, and they are defaming Israel before the world," said Netanyahu ahead of his departure to the United States. "I was the head of the opposition and I did not slander Israel in front of the world."
Video: Protesters project messages against Netanyahu on prominent sites in San Francisco / Credit: UnXeptable
State Party leader Benny Gantz said that Netanyahu was causing "tremendous damage" to Israeli society with his remark.
"Netanyahu's attack, accusing the protesters in the US of colluding with our enemies, is serious and worthy of all condemnation," he said in a statement. "Even if we disagree on the course of action, we are talking about patriots, lovers of the country. Even a thousand flame-throwing speeches at the United Nations will not repair the tremendous damage that Netanyahu is causing to Israeli society through his conduct. It's time to stop the 'coup d'état' and bring order to the government, instead of blaming the protesters."
Similarly, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said, "There is no person who has destroyed our image in the world more than Netanyahu in recent months. Nothing helps the Iranians more than the 'coup d'état' of his government. His accusations against the patriots of the protest is more proof of the serious disruption to his judgment and understanding of reality."
Netanyahu's office later clarified that he did not mean to equate protesters with Iran, but merely pointed out that for the first time in history, Israelis will be protesting outside the UN headquarters during an address by an Israeli premier along with Palestinian and BDS supporters.
Protest leaders are planning to hound Netanyahu during his entire seven-day US visit, and last week projected a message onto the UN building in New York City reading: "Don't believe Crime Minister Netanyahu. Protect Israeli democracy."
"The slogan projected on the UN building wall is just a small taste of what is awaiting the indicted defendant Netanyahu on his visit to NYC," the protesters said in a statement. "We will be waiting to greet him. In the air, on land and at sea. The whole world will know that Netanyahu is a liar. We will not allow him to disgrace Israel and deceive world leaders with his speeches."
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
"Today, the world is seeing – and I will certainly emphasize this – that Iran is violating all of its commitments, that it brazenly lies, and that it intends both to develop nuclear weapons and continue its aggression in the region," said Netanyahu on Sunday night.
The premier is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday.
NS.org contributed to this report.
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