Iddo Netanyahu, veteran of the Yom Kippur War, physician, playwright, and brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, broke his silence with an in-depth interview for the Italian newspaper Il Giornale, conducted by journalist Gaia Cesare. At 73 years old, he defended Israel's actions in Gaza, harshly criticized Europe, and denounced media manipulation in favor of terrorism.
"Hamas built its tunnels beneath houses, schools, hospitals, and mosques. From their point of view, the more civilians die, the better for their propaganda," he warned, distinguishing the current conflict from conventional clashes of the past.
War as the theater of the absurd
When asked how he would represent the current conflict from his role as a playwright, Netanyahu was categorical: "I would focus on the hypocrisy of the West. They criticize a country for fighting against a terrorist organization that massacred its population. Would Italy, Spain, or Sweden act differently?"
He also emphasized that Islamist hatred is not limited to Israel: "The West thinks that if Israel disappears, they will be left in peace. That's not the case. They hate Israel because they hate the West, of which Israel is a part."
Criticism of Europe for its inaction regarding Iran
Netanyahu also pointed out European passivity regarding Iran's nuclear program: "They never considered military action. They expected little Israel to do it. Who do they think Iran's ballistic missiles are aimed at? Only at us?"
He praised, instead, the recent Israeli operation against Iran: "We have destroyed, at least for now, Iran's nuclear program. That dispelled much of the uncertainty about our long-term survival."
The failure in the propaganda war
The interviewee targeted major international media for spreading false images and biased accounts: "The New York Times published the photo of a malnourished child who actually had a pre-existing illness. It's not ignorance, it's bad intent."
