Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the rising tide of Jew-hatred since the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, during a Knesset address on Monday night, stating that “Antisemitism is a fact.”
“As my father taught me, throughout history it appears in waves,” he said.
“There are days, like this day, when I look back at the roots of the mission that guides me in my public life: to fight our enemies who seek to destroy us, and to ensure our existence in our land,” Netanyahu said, noting Nov. 10 marks 50 years since the United Nations issued its infamous “Zionism is racism” resolution in 1975.
The prime minister recalled former Israeli ambassador Chaim Herzog’s powerful U.N. speech condemning the “Zionism equals racism” resolution, in which the ambassador tore up the document to symbolize Israel’s rejection of the lie.
“And what is astonishing is that this antisemitic decision was made on the same date, 37 years earlier, when the Kristallnacht pogrom had taken place. It was on Nov. 10, 1938,” he said.
Netanyahu related how, in 1991, as deputy foreign minister, he had the privilege of witnessing the repeal of that U.N. resolution.
While the “shameful decision” equating Zionism with racism was rescinded, the ongoing effort to delegitimize the State of Israel continues, he said, noting that the anti-Israel bloc at the U.N. enjoys an “automatic majority” of some 150 countries.
Netanyahu said most international institutions make “delusional accusations” against Israel, entirely disconnected from the truth. Meanwhile, global media outlets run with anti-Israel themes.
He pointed to the recent resignation of the heads of the BBC over “serious and systemic bias.” (Creative editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump was the immediate cause of their departure, but pressure had been building on the scandal-plagued news outlet over charges of antisemitism and biased coverage of Israel and Gaza.)
Anti-Israel propagandists attempt to portray Israel as a Goliath instead of the David in the story, he said, adding, “There is no greater distortion of the truth than that.”
Just as with the “Zionism is racism” resolution 50 years ago, the forces arrayed against Israel, including the progressive left, radical Islam, and elements of the radical right, want to portray the Jewish State as the aggressor, Netanyahu said.
“That’s why they call us ‘Goliath.’ And they identify the vile murderers who attacked us as ‘David.’ What an absurdity. We are David… against a murderous Goliath—the axis of evil in Iran with all its proxies,” the prime minister said.
Many of the founders of Zionism understood that antisemitism wouldn’t disappear with the establishment of a Jewish State, he noted, listing early Zionist figures, such as Leo Pinsker, Max Nordau and Israel Zangwill. (Zionism’s chief founder, Theodor Herzl, actually did assume that antisemitism would disappear with the establishment of a Jewish State.)
“They knew very well that hatred for the Jewish people would be revealed in all its ugliness, even when we achieved sovereign rule in our country,” Netanyahu said, stressing that the difference today is that Israel can hit back against its enemies and exact a heavy price.
While the campaign to defend Israel, militarily and diplomatically, continues without respite, Netanyahu expressed confidence in ultimate victory: “Together we will stand. Together we will do it. And with God’s help, together we will win.”
Netanyahu was obliged to address the Knesset over a debate called by the opposition. The official topic was the demand for a commission of inquiry into the failings leading up to the Oct. 7 massacre.
The prime minister said that the commission needed to represent the broad spectrum of Israeli society. He criticized the opposition for seeking to create a commission that would serve its narrow political interests.
“Unlike you, we want to form an investigative committee as broad as possible,” he said."This must be a balanced committee that will listen to everyone and investigate everyone and win the public’s trust.”
