Netanyahu blasts reporters at first briefing in months, just ahead of his corruption trial testimony

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a televised press conference Monday evening marking the first one since the discovery of the bodies of six hostages in a tunnel in Khan Younis. 

The press conference, which was marked by controversy with accusations back and forth between Netanyahu and several reporters came just hours before he is set to begin testimony in the Case 1000 corruption trial. 

The press conference began by Netanyahu reviewing the developments of the past few months, including the defeat of the majority of Hamas fighting forces in Gaza, the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria. 

While praising the “national resilience and steadfastness” of the Israeli citizens, as well as the “heroism of our wonderful fighters”, the prime minister presented these developments as the result of his decision making and determination. 

“All this was done because we insisted, I insisted, to withstand the pressure and not to surrender,” Netanyahu declared. 

He also repeated previous claims that the fall of Assad was the “direct result of the heavy blows we landed on Hamas, on Hezbollah, and on Iran.” The prime minister said that Israel has been working to dismantle the Iranian axis in a “systematic, measured and orderly fashion” since October 7, 2023. 

He further stated, "The total victory that was ridiculed is now becoming a reality,” saying that Hamas has become “more isolated than ever.” 

Turning to the issue of his upcoming trials and testimony, Netanyahu responded more sharply toward the media at the press conference. When asked if he expected to receive a fair trial, he criticized the media’s reporting of his legal issues. 

“Regarding the trial, I heard in the media that they say I want to evade the trial,” Netanyahu claimed. “Do I want to avoid it? What nonsense. I've been waiting for this day for 8 years, I've been waiting for 8 years to present the truth.” 

Netanyahu again claimed the charges against him, and the press coverage of scandals around his office are part of “a cruel witch hunt.” 

“There was no offense, so they went looking for an offense. They didn’t find anything, so they invented something,” he claimed. 

Netanyahu also dismissed any reports of incapacitation due to the trial testimony. 

“In your question, you raise the issue to see if there is an opening for incapacitation. It doesn't exist,” he said, “because the people are the ones who determine who will be prime minister. It's called democracy, the basis of democracy is that the people choose who will lead it.” 

Netanyahu accused the law enforcement agencies of conspiring against him. 

“They arrest dozens of people around me, destroy their lives, blackmail them with threats, harassment, isolation, lack of sleep. All to get them to give false testimony,” he angrily charged.

“They also use spies against them. Forged protocols, the concealment of exculpatory evidence, leaks, and endless brainwashing of the public. This is the method. Not only in my investigations. That is the method.” 

During the question and answer section, Netanyahu engaged in heated exchanges with several reporters, accusing them of spreading lies and slander. 

Asked by Kan New’s Michael Shemesh why he had once offered to give up the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace deal with Syria, Netanyahu exploded, “How much fake news can you make up?” 

“I’ve listened enough to your lies,” Netanyahu said. “You’re spreading lies all the time.” 

When asked by N12’s Yollan Cohen about discrepancies between statements made by the prime minister and those by the hostage families, saying Netanyahu had prevented previous hostage deals, he responded, “You spread this slander all the time — that there was a deal, and I blocked it.” 

As she tried to respond, Netanyahu pointed at her, saying, “You for one minute listen to me! You listen to me. Because the Israeli public, because the families hear these lies!” 

Netanyahu also accused the Shin Bet of treating suspects in the leaked documents case in a “shocking manner”, repeating claims that they were treated like terrorists. 

Following the press conference, opposition leader Yair Lapid attacked Netanyahu’s comments. 

“In a day when four soldiers were killed in the north and three in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu is only concerned with one thing: himself. It was a shameful speech of ‘me, myself, and I,'” Lapid stated. 

“Anyone who wanted to know why a person under indictment cannot be prime minister had only to watch his press conference tonight,” Lapid continued, saying, “It was a shameful collection of lies and stealing credit for the achievements of the security establishment, which acted heroically despite the weakness of his leadership.” 

Lapid also dismissed Netanyahu’s claim that he had waited years to present his testimony. 

“His victim blaming and false claim that he waited eight years for his testimony is a bad joke,” the opposition leader said. “The reason it took so long is that, like the last of the criminals, he did every possible trick, kosher or not, to postpone it more and more.” 

The Israeli Union of Journalists also gave a statement denouncing Netanyahu’s attacks on the media during the press conference. 

Saying it “strongly condemns Prime Minister Netanyahu's attack and incitement against journalists who carry out their work and public mission. We strengthen and back the journalists Yolan Cohen and Michael Shemesh, who are fulfilling their duties. The role of the media is to ask the prime minister, any prime minister, tough questions.”