Netanyahu accuses Israeli media of cooperating with the ‘deep state’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused media outlets of “constantly lying to the public in the service of and in full cooperation with the deep state,” during a Knesset debate on Monday.

“The media are not news channels; they are fake channels,” the prime minister charged during a so-called 40-signature debate, which the opposition can call once a month and which he is obliged to attend.

Netanyahu noted allegations that have resurfaced in recent days that former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with the accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein at least 36 times between 2013 and 2017.

“They invite Ehud Barak again and again to the studios—I believe also today—they interview him with great respect and dignity, but strangely, he is not asked a single question on the subject,” the premier claimed.

Netanyahu listed a series of affairs he said the media and Israeli law-enforcement officials have failed to probe, including the alleged leaking of classified intelligence by Knesset member Gilad Kariv of the new Israeli party, HaDemokratim (“The Democrats,” a merger of the former Labor and Meretz parties); and the alleged role of his party leader, Yair Golan, in encouraging the refusal of IDF service prior to the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“None of this is being investigated. And what is being probed? Made-up tales. Lies about my wife, my son, my health situation ... ,” the longtime leader fumed in a confrontation with opposition MKs.

“It does not work anymore,” he declared. “And I will tell you what else does not work. We are seeing wonderful unity among the majority of the people. We see a belief in the message that together, we will win.

“The people will not be fooled. Most people see everything happening here. The cooperation between the deep state and the media did not succeed in the U.S. and will not succeed here,” concluded Netanyahu.

‘Work for a better future’

In the 30-minute address to Knesset members, the prime minister also elaborated on what he described as Jerusalem’s ongoing “preparations for the upcoming stages” of the multipronged war on Israel.

“Since the terror attack on Oct. 7, we have exacted a tremendous price from our enemies. We did things here that no one believed we would do,” he stated, adding these achievements “changed the Middle East.

“We are now preparing for the next stages of the campaign. Of course, not everything is visible to the eye, not everything should be discussed. In recent months, the entire world has seen the strength of Israel and the cunning of Israel,” the leader of the Jewish state told lawmakers.

“I will continue to work for a better future for us, our children and for generations to come. With God’s help, we will do all this. And with God’s help, we will succeed. Thank you very much,” he concluded the speech.

The term “deep state” refers to powerful bureaucracies, especially within the executive branch of government, that exercise control regardless of the policies of elected leaders who are in charge of those bureaucracies.

Elon Musk, co-head of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, has suggested that the ongoing criminal proceedings against Netanyahu have been concocted by the deep state, tweeting to that effect on Feb. 24.