Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a firestorm of criticism after boasting that he spent “1000 hours” on American television to manipulate U.S. policy, finally convincing Washington to attack Iran.
During an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 on August 30, Netanyahu made the explosive remarks while discussing his decades-long campaign against Tehran. He claimed that while he has opposed Iran for nearly 40 years, it took a significant effort to bring the United States in line with his views.
He attributed this success to his “influence” over U.S. leaders, cultivated through extensive media exposure
‘A Two-Faced Man’
The remarks, delivered in Hebrew for an Israeli audience, quickly sparked a sharp rebuke from Iran. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on August 31 by posting the video clip on social media, accusing Netanyahu of being a “two-faced man.”
Araghchi highlighted the contrast between the Prime Minister’s public rhetoric in English, where he typically praises U.S. leadership, and his private boasts in Hebrew about “fooling the U.S. to fight for Israel” .
The incident has strained U.S.-Israel relations, which have been increasingly tense in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Israeli officials expressed frustration after being kept in the dark about a U.S. decision to call off a strike on Iran.
Reports indicate that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz learned of the cancellation not through diplomatic channels, but via a social media post from former President Trump . One Israeli official described the situation as a “complete information vacuum,” noting, “Trump put us in the fog” .
With an election looming on October 27, Netanyahu faces an uphill battle against a strong opposition and a public weary of war .