'He lied the whole time': Israeli media on Netanyahu's Time interview
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Time magazine fact-checked Netanyahu's recent interview, refuting his statements and debunking the allegations made regarding Hamas, Gaza, and his coalition.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP)
An Israeli news outlet said the fact-check Time magazine published following an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was an "unusual move", adding that he lied throughout the entirety of the discussion.
Time magazine conducted an interview with Netanyahu on August 4, then released a refutation, saying his answers either lacked context, were not backed by facts, or were simply incorrect.
On Hamas and Gaza
During the interview, Netanyahu claimed that "October 7 proved those who said Hamas was deterred wrong," adding that the assumption was collective among all [Israeli] security apparatus, and was not challenged enough by the Prime Minister.
Netanyahu added that "If he did challenge [the assumption], it would be from an opposite polarity," as he reportedly "refused to heed warnings that Hamas saw an opportunity to strike Israel."
However, it was noted that Netanyahu himself claimed that Hamas was allegedly deterred and could not attack "Israel", on several occasions before. Only a few months before October 7, Netanyahu claimed he blocked several future attacks from Gaza after Operation Seif al-Quds in 2021.
In his 2022 memoir, Netanyahu wrote "Hamas is chained enough," adding that an all-out war in Gaza was not his objective amid bigger worries regarding Iran.
"Did I really have to restrict the Israeli army in Gaza for years when we had to deal with Iran and a possible Syrian front?" Netanyahu wrote in his memoirs, adding, "The answer was a definite no. I had bigger fish to fry."
Regarding his trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu said in the interview, "This trial is unfolding now. You don’t hear about it much, but it is really unfolding." The magazine noted that the Prime Minister sought to postpone his testimony until March 2025, and that the Israeli Attorney General’s Office opposed the request, with the Al-Quds District Court ruling against Netanyahu and ordering him to begin his testimony in December 2024.
The annexation of the West Bank
The interview also discussed the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, regarding which Netanyahu claimed he did not order the annexation of more lands.
However, the magazine's fact-check revealed that Netanyahu presented Donald Trump with a plan to expand Israeli control over the Jordan Valley and the settlements in the West Bank, which constitute about 30% of the area of ​​the West Bank, sparking violent backlash in occupied Palestine, the United States, and throughout the Middle East.
Trump was reportedly shocked by Netanyahu's plot, according to Time magazine, citing Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, who relayed the former president's reaction, saying he turned to his aides exclaiming "What the hell is this?"
Netanyahu had to withdraw his proposal after pressure from Trtump's administration.
When Netanyahu reassumed power in December 2022, he appointed far-right ministers in key positions overseeing the West Bank: Bezalel Smotrich as Minister of Finance, and Itamar Ben Gvir as Police Minister. Both exerted systematic efforts to expand "Israel's" footprint in the occupied territories, with Smotrich approving unauthorized outposts and streamlining settlement activities.
Moreover, as part of the coalition agreement, Netanyahu transferred significant ruling authority in the West Bank from the occupation forces to a body headed by Smotrich, with the exception of security control.
Israeli lawyers, human rights activists, and members of the coalition said Netanyahu's move aims to achieve a de jure annexation.
Netanyahu's 'fragile' coalition
In June, Smotrich informed Israeli settlers of his plan to annex the West Bank and the prevention of the formation of an independent Palestinian State, saying "These changes alter the regime's DNA."
Netanyahu claimed he had full control over the coalition, saying "I direct the show, I make the decisions, I dictate policy."
The magazine stated that Netanyahu is indebted to the far-right members of his government who have the ability to overthrow the government and set early elections, due to the "fragility of his coalition", which holds 64 seats in a 120-member parliament.
It also recalled that Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, who threatened to resign and risk the collapse of the ruling coalition if Netanyahu agreed to the ceasefire agreement proposed by US President Joe Biden, collectively hold 13 seats in Netanyahu’s majority.
