Here’s a 43-minute interview of Benjamin Netanyahu by the Triggernometry dudes: Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster. It’s a short one: 43 minutes with about 4 minutes of commercials, and the schedule, given on the YouTube site, is at the bottom along with my comments.
Click on the screenshot below and then hit the “play” button.
Here’s the contents by introduction time (indented), and my comments (flush left):
00:00 Introduction
02:13 Benjamin Netanyahu’s Experience Of October 7th
06:05 What Do We Now Know That We Didn’t On October 7th?
08:11 How Did Your Intelligence Services Not See This Coming?
Netanyahu says this question will be answered by an upcoming investigation. There’s also another “lesson” he learned from October 7: that Israel “ultimately have to take on Iran itself”. I’m very curious about what the investigation will conclude.
12:57 Was Israel Allowing Qatar To Give Money To Hamas?
Netanyahu claims that the money was given by Israel to Gazans themselves, in order to “protect the population and feed and nurture them”, but I’m a bit dubious about this. How could they not know that the money would go mostly to Hamas, not ordinary Gazans? And with that dosh from Israel, Hamas built its huge network of terror tunnels. In other words, Israel was financing terrorism and must have known it. Here we have another conundrum, for Hamas swore in its first charter (1988) to not only wipe out Israel but kill all Jews. Are you telling me that Netanyahu didn’t think about this? His own country helped buttress Hamas terrorism in Gaza and now, he says, Israel will keep fighting until Hamas is eliminated.
16:14 Keir Starmer’s Comments And The UK Recognising Palestine As A State
Here Netanyahu says, correctly, that the recognition of Palestine as a state by European countries only encourages Hamas to continue their resistance. And that rewards Hamas with a de facto gift of a state whose rulers have already said they will to repeat the butchery of October 7 again and again. As he says, echoing Douglas Murray “[Those European states] recognize Israel’s right to defend itself as long as Israel doesn’t exercise that right.” He adds that those countries are weak, bowing to “radical minority protestors”.
19:36 Will Israel Be Trapped In A ‘Forever War’ Through Its Current Actions?
Here Kisen and Foster ask the obvious question: what about the amount of casualties and suffering of Palestinians? Further, they ask, “If Israel has achieved nearly all of its aims, won’t its actions continue to radicalize the Gazan population?”
Netanyahu responds again with an assertion that doesn’t quite ring true: he says that Gazans see hope and are many are telling Israel “don’t let up” until they eliminate Hamas. This seems like an exaggeration.
But the PM’s response to accusations of genocide is on the mark: “If we wanted to commit genocide, we could have done it in one afternoon.” He says that the ratio of civilians to combatants killed is 1.5/1, which of course readers here have contested. But I’d believe the IDF’s estimates over Hamas’s any day. To expect a lower ratio, says Netanyahu, is holding Israel “to an impossible standard”.
26:47 The Inflammatory Comments By Israeli Government Ministers
People are always quoting statements made in anger by Israeli government officials (or, more recently, by extreme right-wing politicians) to justify their charge of “genocide” against Israel. My own response is the same as above: there is no evidence I see that Israel is actually acting in a way that will wipe out all Gazans, terrorists or civilians. IDF soldiers are being killed in efforts to invade by killing as few civilians as possible, and why would they do that if they could simply bomb the country to smithereens at no risk to IDF soldiers? Netanyahu admits that Israeli officials have said things they “don’t mean”, but, nevertheless, most but not all of Israelis are united in the war aims
Kisen and Foster responds, “But those espousing the ‘kill ’em all’ ideas were in the government; so isn’t that ethnic cleansing?” [Not a direct quote!] Netanyahu says that ethnic cleansing has never been discussed in the war cabinet but admits that there are disagreements in the cabinet about how to conduct the wear. He adds that Israel’s policy is not to occupy Gaza. Rather, he wants a non-Israeli civilian government that doesn’t condone or launch terrorism (i.e., not Hamas or PA), and he does not want to see or send Israeli settlers in Gaza.
31:33 The Views Of The Younger Generations Towards Israel
Kisen and Foster mention that the biggest opposition to Israel’s attack on Gaza is among young people. Netanyahu responds that these young folk should look carefully at exactly whom they are supporting: terrorists, Iran, even those who tried to kill Trump. He adds that he does not want to see American boots on the ground to help Israel, though he approves of Trump’s “forceful support given in a judicious way.”
Finally, he says something that seems very true: “We are the litmus test for the survival of the West.” He claims, correctly, that many of the pro-Palestinian protestors have as their explicit or implicit aim the destruction of Western civilization. There is plenty of evidence that this is indeed the case.
35:01 What Does The Future Of Gaza Look Like?
Again the Triggernometry duo asks Netanyahu, “How can you have a peaceful eoexistence with radicalized people who hate you?” Netanyahu responds that after the war there should be a “program of deradicalization”. Such a program, he says, has worked elsewhere, as in Japan and Germany after WWII, and even with the Gulf States in the Middle East. The goal, he says, is to “reconstruct Gaza and deradicalize it.”
The problem, of course, is that after WWII the world was not allied against the U.S. for defeating Germany and Japan, as it is now against Israel defeating Hamas. Further, the U.N. (especially UNRWA) is firmly on the side of Hamas, and so “deradicalization” in Gaza would face enormous pushback from the rest of the world. Still, I think, it’s necessary, and for that they need good, moderate, and non-terrorist Palestinian leadership. Sadly, nobody seems willing to step up to the plate. Other Arab states already recognize the seeds of terrorism in Palestinians by refusing to let them settle in their countries.
Starmer and others who recognize a Palestinian state are, says the P.M., recognizing a state that would continue to foster terrorism. These countries are implicitly calling for the continuance of Islamist threats against Israel’s existence. Indeed, one might almost think they wouldn’t be disturbed if Israel disappeared.
37:15 What’s The One Thing We’re Not Talking About In Western Civilisation That We Should Be?
Netanyahu’s answer is “Three things: history, history, and history” As he says, “If you don’t know how we got here, you don’t know how to proceed from here.” One of these bits of knowledge is to take threats of annihiliation, like those in Hamas’s first charter, seriously. Another is that if a state like Iran says it might use nuclear weapons, do not ignore that. That in fact is why Israel and the U.S. united to go after Iran’s nukes in June of this year.
A few final comments. I am getting a lot of anti-Israel emails (and a few comments on the site) that parrot the Hamas line of genocide and call for Israel to withdraw from Gaza, apparently leaving Hamas in power. Some of the emails and comments are uncivil. To those who want Israel out of Gaza now, leaving Hamas to resume power, I ask you to tell us, “What would you do if you were in Netanyahu’s place now?” That is, how would you conduct the war if you controlled the IDF?
Almost nobody ever answers that one, save one commenter who told me that Israel should withdraw from Gaza and build a huge, high, and impenetrable wall on the border between Gaza and Israel! The problems with that are clear, of course. Rockets do not respect high walls, and Hamas will begin firing rockets again if it resumes power. Further, you remember what happened when Israel built walls along parts of the West Bank to stop terrorists from entering. Those walls worked very well, but Israel was accused of furthering “apartheid” by building them. The fact is that nothing Israel does in this war will ever be praised, much less be free from worldwide condemnation.
Finally, I ask readers to avoid accusing Israel of deliberately committing genocide against the Palestinians, much less saying Israel is an “apartheid state”. Those are stupid and obtuse assertions, and obtuseness (defined by Brittanica as “stupid or unintelligent: not able to think clearly or to understand what is obvious or simple”) is banned by Da Roolz. In fact, it might behoove you, especially if you’re a new reader, to read “Da Roolz”, as many seem to have forgotten them.
That said, feel free to go after Netanyahu–or support some of what he said.
I was struck that they secured an interview with Netanyahu – esp. since some of Kisin’s latest work included him getting called an “incel” that sits in his bedroom all day (or something like that).
Go Incels! 😆
Why would being called an “incel” in some corner of the internet reduce his chances of getting an interview? Triggernometry is one of the most popular podcasts around.
It’s just that they were – laughably – trying to be painted as some totally unserious losers – and the next thing I saw was this interview – the juxtaposition was poetic, IMHO.
If I find the clip I’ll try to post it…
Found it!
https://x.com/konstantinkisin/status/1955606117423419435?s=46
?????
Incel? Konstantin Kisin is married and has a two year old son.
LOL I found the clip – gotta check it out!
Hopefully my meaning is clear after that – limitations of typing out tiny comments …
I got what you were saying, Bryan. Just about the time you’re amongst friends…
The trouble with Netanyahu is that he is a notorious liar, and knows very well what Americans like to hear. One should be cautious about believing him. He has been accused of deliberately propping up the radical Hamas in a misguided effort (a classic) to keep the Palestinians divided and pulling military protection away from the Gaza strip to help settlers in the West Bank.
“If we wanted to commit genocide, we could have done it in one afternoon.” <- That is true, but that is not necessary as Israel could (and I dare say its current government wants to) ethnically cleanse the Gaza strip instead, a much better solution. Why Israel has not done this in decades? Fear of international isolation, perhaps even becoming a pariah state like North Korea.
That’s pretty much my idea. Israel would continue to be a very successful country with excellent future prospects (high TFR, IQ + AI, biotech…) and currently is much stronger militarily than any of its enemies. To continue the war only seems sensible to me if you do hope to roll the iron dice, expecting things will be worse in the future so you must solve the Palestinian problem before it is too late.
“He has been accused of deliberately propping up the radical Hamas in a misguided effort (a classic) to keep the Palestinians divided…”
I’ve heard this accusation many times, and it is used by Western sympathizers of Palestinians to blame Israel for Hamas’ attack.
What is the evidence for this? Is this a credible claim, an exaggeration (perhaps Netanyahu helped Hamas at some point in time but not in a material way), or baseless anti-Semitic propaganda?
The trouble with _______ is that _______ is a notorious liar, and knows very well what Americans like to hear. One should be cautious about believing ________. _______ has been accused of [fill in whatever imagined evil or illegality that one desires].
Since we pretty much hear similar things today about any politician that any partisan loathes, I’ve saved everyone the trouble by providing the template. For those who would like to flesh out the generic accusations with facts, I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Why? Well, see, the trouble with your providers of facts is that they are notorious . . .
That appears to be a highly dubious description of Israeli policy and its motivations. Israel presented serious proposals to create an Arab Islamic state under the governments of Ehud Barack and again under Olmert before Hamas took over Gaza. Israel did not want Hamas to take over Gaza, it was Hamas that wanted that outcome, it was Hamas that took over Gaza, and it was the PA and Hamas that disagreed with each other and fought each other. Their disagreement with each other is genuine, Israel did not somehow get inside their heads and manipulate their thinking via remote control to create a split. My perspective is that the Israeli government was, and still is, worried about international pressure to create an Arab Islamic state ASAP which they consider to be, and as far as I can see for very good reasons, a big mistake that would pose a serious threat to Israel, particularly with Hamas in control of Gaza and popular west of the Jordan river, and also because they distrust the PA and various other actors, including but not limited to Iran.
RE the propping up of Hamas, Israel would be criticised if they didn’t. No matter if the money is via third parties such as Qatar. If the money wasn’t flowing the criticism would then become “See how Israel stands in the way of Gaza receiving the funding needed to support… “
Great interview.
The war/s against Israel will only continue as long as there is Islam. Islam distinctly calls for the annihilation of the Jews. This is separate from the destruction or conversion of others in the “Dar al Harb” House of War i.e. non-Islamic lands, so separate from the Christians and others.
Jews have a special – particularly unpleasant – place in Islam and its future.
This all isn’t about land at all. In Hamas’ case, both charters (1988 and 2017) barely mention Palestine or land at all: its all about the spread of Islam.
Onwards Israeli heroes.
D.A. NYC
@DavidandersonJd
Are there some giveaway quotes from the Koran or Hadith I can find for my collection?
All I know is stuff about “infidels”….
“The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdullah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (the Boxthorn tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews. (related by al-Bukhari and Muslim).Sahih Muslim, 41:6985.” A hadith which Hamas helpfully included in its 1988 charter.
Excellent, thanks.
That quote is also included in the first Hamas charter.
On 9/11/2001, Al Qaeda, claiming to act on behalf of the Muslim umma generally, the revealed word of God, and the Palestinian Arabs, succeeded in globalizing the intifada to attack US civil aviation, the world trade towers in NYC, and Washington DC. It retrospect, it is surprising that Spain, Norway, and Ireland did not quickly respond by announcing their recognition of Al Qaeda as a state, and organize diplomatic relations with it. After France recognizes “Palestine” next month, perhaps it will likewise recognize the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, in any space which that worthy group claims as its own— hopefully nothing in France, although Islamic conquest did once include parts of that current political unit.
And therefore, by Islamic law, that part of current France is now and always Islamic territory. They are required to take it back when/if they get the opportunity.
I watched the interview and think it was very good. Netanyahu is very well practiced, as he has been asked all these questions before, and has had to ask them of himself as well. He finessed a few things, such as Israel’s early support for Hamas which, ultimately, was used against him.
On balance, it’s hard to imagine another Israeli leader acting much differently. When attacked on October 7, Israel needed to respond robustly. “Mowing the lawn”—the periodic military operations to counter Hamas rockets—was no longer going to suffice, given the scale of the October 7 operation. The old Israeli strategy of containment (since 2006) had failed. Whomever was in charge was going to have to both rescue the hostages and destroy Hamas.
So, how should Netanyahu act at this point? If I were in his shoes I would probably conclude that now is the right time to make a deal for the remaining hostages and hostage remains. Time is of the essence. Hamas has been degraded to near irrelevance as a military threat. The Israeli public wants the hostages home and is tired of the war.
Once the hostages have been repatriated, Hamas will have no remaining leverage. With the hostages home, Israel should remain fully mobilized so that the IDF can re-engage the enemy at a moment’s notice. Once Hamas shows any indication of re-arming—and thus breaking the agreement—the IDF should go into Gaza and finish the job. Having lost their leverage, what remains of Hamas can then be destroyed.
All of this leaves to one side the problem of de-radicalizing the population and seeking a long-term agreement to live side-by-side in peace. But the present moment is the moment of truth for the hostages. And the present is where Netanyahu needs to be focused now.
Why would what’s left of Hamas walk into that trap? I suspect Hamas’s spawn will never give up the hostages. At some point they will kill them, if they haven’t starved to death, when they become too much trouble to drag around with them. But they will never tell Israel they are dead. They want there to be always someone in Israel pleading, “Don’t flood those tunnels. You might drown a hostage” even though the “hostage” is now 105 years old.
We’re speculating here. It’s the Prime Minister’s call, his alone, so long as he can keep a majority in the Knesset. Which is worse, to be a pariah state (that nonetheless makes things with its brains that the rest of the world wants, unlike North Korea), or a former state now judenrein?
If I’m not mistaken the word “resistance” appears in the question but not in his answer.
“ Netanyahu claims that the money was given by Israel to Gazans themselves, in order to “protect the population and feed and nurture them”, but I’m a bit dubious about this. How could they not know that the money would go mostly to Hamas, not ordinary Gazans? And with that dosh from Israel, Hamas built its huge network of terror tunnels. In other words, Israel was financing terrorism and must have known it.”
I did not listen to the interview but I read that there may be another potentially relevant dimension to this history of a willingness of Israel to allow money to flow into Gaza. After Hamas took control of Gaza they allegedly communicated to the government of Israel that they planned to focus on developing the economy and they took some actions in that direction, thereby encouraging Israel to let down its guard. This history also contributes to the current government of Israel being distrustful of what they are told by Hamas.
I’ve had this question since October 7, 2023 and i can’t get a satisfactory answer:What was Israeli intelligence thinking as they saw Hamas building hundreds of miles of tunnels, while building little or nothing in the way of housing and normal infrastructure?
What was Israel thinking? What was the PM thinking?
Netanyahu led several military operations against Hamas which killed many Hamas soldiers, including senior Hamas commanders. Successive Israeli governments before, during and also after Netanyahu’s governments enabled money to go to Gaza. Not in order to strengthen Hamas, but to prevent a humanitarian crisis by supporting critical infrastructure, including water and sewage systems to prevent the spread of disease and to enable daily life.
There were some commercial construction projects in Gaza. It later turned out that some of that construction was secretely diverted to undisclosed/hidden tunnel construction.
Matthew, are you saying that Israel never had any idea that there were tunnels?
Qatar sent cash to Gaza starting in 2018 after the PA stopped sending money to Hamas the previous year. Netanyahu at the time claimed Qatar would be better than the PA in keeping the cash away from Hamas. My understanding is that Qatar agreed to provide Israel with the signatures and fingerprints of the people who received the cash. It was late 2021 when Naftali Bennett arranged an alternative way for the money to be distributed, presumably because by then it was concluded that the cash was benefiting Hamas.
Israel discovered an estimated 100 kilometers (62 mi) of tunnels during the 2014 Gaza War which predates the Qatari cash to Gaza.
The direct link to the Youtube video is:
Hamas will begin firing rockets again if it resumes power.
I don’t think so. Instead, it will be drones going forward, happily supplied by Iran.
I said from Oct 7, 2023 that a thriving liberal democracy and strong Western ally in the middle east is attacked by barbaric, theocratic terrorists sworn to annihilate them, and the Left-wingers side with the terrorists!! No wonder the Left has lost support. I’m a lifelong liberal Lefty, and I wouldn’t vote for them.