Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett valiantly tried to remain patient with CNN International’s Christiane Amanpour during a Wednesday interview also broadcast in the U.S. on PBS, but ultimately Amanpour’s desire to equate Palestinian terrorism with the Israeli response to it led Bennett to label her talking points as “a lie.”
Bennett didn’t initially call Amanpour a liar, instead informing her that “the way the facts were presented is not accurate” when she omitted that ISIS terrorists started the recent cycle of violence by murdering Israelis.
When Amanpour didn’t learn from this and accused Israel of storming the mosque on the Temple Mount, Bennett did his best Ronald Reagan impression:
Christiane! You’re right, Christiane. The fact of the matter is that about 300 Palestinian rioters invaded Temple Mount Mosque using explosives and stones last Friday at around 5 am. About 80,000 Muslims were prevented from coming to prayer by the rioters, who started desecrating their mosque, setting fires, and throwing stones.
Amanpour wasn’t pleased at being called out:
You say, Mr. Prime Minister. Clearly, there’s violence. All of us watch. You can all see it. Let me quote you, your Israeli security personnel. The context is that the West Bank was occupied in 1967. It is permissible for settler to live there. They are a minority. That is what I am aware of. They’re still there. And they are violent, this minority… [Major General Yehuda Fuchs]In an interview with The New York TimesAccording to him, he was very concerned about the so-called settler terrorist and was trying hard to stop it. He stated that his responsibility is to keep both Israelis, and Palestinians safe. Is that what you would respond to?
Bennett finally had enough, “No, what you have been projecting is blatantly false.” As the two then started talking over each other, Bennett continued, “The overwhelming majority — I will tell you why I say it, because it’s a lie, simply a lie.”
Amanpour retorted “you cannot tell me I’m lying,” arguing that Bennett simply repeated what she said about a tiny minority of Israeli extremists, to which Bennett shot back “I can” and “you are misrepresenting the facts.”
The number of extremists aside, Bennett again confronted Amanpour on her bias, “And I object the symmetry that you’re trying to create here, because, out of a half-a-million of good Israelis, decent…”
Amanpour interrupted again, “There’s no symmetry. I’m talking about your own generals,” after Bennett asked if he could be allowed to finish his sentence, he concluded this portion of the interview by again pointing out:
But, who is getting killed? It’s not Israelis being murdered by Palestinians. There aren’t any Israelis killing Palestinians. There is no symmetry. Also, I object. They aren’t occupied territory. These territories are under dispute. We have also claimed their territory. I get it. There is no one going anywhere. Together, we must find ways to co-exist. It’s my responsibility to ensure security and dignity for Israelis as well as Palestinians.
Amanpour’s anti-Israel bias is nothing new, but this time there was someone there to correct her in real time.
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This transcript is for the April 20, 2018 show.
Amanpour and Company
4/20/2022
11:00 PM ET
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR – You never know what he will say about you, the government or you, but he hopes that you will also step up. These latest clashes have resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals from each side: one from Israel and the other from Palestine. You claim that your security and defense policies lack politics. This is the reality that most people have grown to accept. This is a constant cycle of violence, killings, each side really being in dire, desperate straits. Collective punishment and large numbers are all part of the picture. In Israel, 2022, there will be countless deaths. That’s it.
There doesn’t appear to be an attempt to end the conflict. It begs the question: Are you actually trying to resolve this conflict with your diverse coalition?
NAFTALI BENETT: First, it is inaccurate how the facts are presented. Israel is peaceful. Unfortunately, Israel was hit by a fresh wave of terror about one month ago. In four terror attacks, 14 victims were killed in Be’er Sheva (Hadera), Hadera and Bnei Brak. These terrorist attacks took place in Tel Aviv’s central area, where Arab Muslim terrorists – some affiliated to ISIS – just arrived with rifles and began killing people. This is inexcusable. This is unacceptable. No. We have no problem with them if they don’t attack our country. However, if they attack us, we have to fight back against them and strike at their terror bases. This is what any leader would do. This is what I do.
Concerning the larger picture: I don’t intend to experiment with the Israeli security. The last time we were in Gaza was 15 or 16 years back. We gave Gaza to the Palestinians. We went back to the original ’67 lines. We expelled all the Jews in Gaza.
What we received in return was hell: tens to thousands of rockets were fired at us. I am not interested in playing with the Israeli people. People-to-people peace is what I intend to do. I have done that and more. I also plan on improving the economy, as well as getting better jobs, for Palestinians. It’s something I stand by and I can tell you that Palestinians enjoy unprecedented wealth.
AMANPOUR – The job issue you just mentioned is in jeopardy because of a blockade on some Israeli towns. According to Palestinians, this does not help with their jobs.
However, I would like to know if you can say people to people. Let’s look at Haram al-Sharif and the Temple Mount. It creates tension and unease when the whole world, including Palestinians, sees Israeli soldiers in that mosque. Why would you permit Israeli soldiers to enter that mosque?BENNETT The truth is, that around 300 Palestinian rioters broke into Temple Mount Mosque last Friday morning at 5:15 AM. They were armed with stones and explosives. About 80,000 Muslims were prevented from coming to prayer by the rioters, who started desecrating their mosque, setting fires, and throwing stones.
As prime minister of Israel, my responsibility is to allow everyone to pray in Jerusalem. This is why I sent in officers to expel the rioters. It worked. In fact, more than 80,000 Muslims continued to pray peacefully after the incident. You must be tough when confronted with violence.
AMANPOUR: You say that there is violence again. Clearly, there’s violence. All of us watch. You can all see it. Let me quote you, your Israeli security personnel. The context is that the West Bank was occupied in 1967. It is permissible for settler to live there. They are a minority. That is what I am aware of. They’re still there. They are violent. It is illegal in the majority of countries, as well as the people who settled on the occupied territories. This is a background for what I will be quoting you. Major General Yehuda Fuss is your commander in the West Bank Israeli troops. In an interview, he said this to the New York TimesAccording to him, he was very concerned about the so-called settler terrorist and was trying hard to stop it. He stated that his responsibility is to keep both Israelis, and Palestinians safe. Is that what you would respond to?
BENNETT, No. The projections you’ve been making are patently false.
AMANPOUR – Why would you do that?
BENNETT — The overwhelming majority — Let me tell you why. Because it’s a liar, it’s just a liar.
AMANPOUR: No, sir, you can’t…
BENNETT
AMANPOUR: I can’t believe that you would say it to me. It is impossible to tell me that I am lying.
BENNETT: Let me finish. Christiane, I can.
AMANPOUR, Mr. Prime Minister. I stated a small number of extremists.
BENNETT : You are misrepresenting facts.
AMANPOUR: I did what I said. This is what I said.
BENNETT : It’s only a small minority.
AMANPOUR: I meant it.
BENNETT: A tiny minority. BENNETT: A small minority. I also object to the symmetry you are trying to achieve here. Because, of half-a million Israelis who are decent, decent…
AMANPOUR: It’s not symmetry. You are your own generals.
BENNETT
AMANPOUR: Yes.
BENNETT – Of the half-a million Israelis who are law-abiding and decent, several hundred or even fewer resort to violence every now and again. However, who is getting killed? It’s not Israelis being murdered by Palestinians. There aren’t any Israelis killing Palestinians. There is no symmetry.
Also, I object. They aren’t occupied territory. These territories are under dispute. We have also claimed their territory. I get it. There is no one going anywhere. Together, we must find ways to co-exist. It’s my responsibility to ensure security and dignity for Israelis as well as Palestinians. That’s what I am working hard on. It’s working. Problem is, the Palestinian leadership are corrupt and incompetent. We have to take on this job, because we don’t know anyone else. We have to be careful. We are adding more jobs and better jobs. My utmost concern is, however, to ensure the security of the Israeli population.
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