Antisemitism Is Netanyahu's Secret Weapon [View all]

Carolina Landsmann
Aug 22, 2025

Antisemitism isn't Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's enemy but his loyal ally, his secret weapon. Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn is right that "Authoritarian and messianic regimes are not frightened by external pressure – they thrive on it." But, contrary to what he wrote, the accelerated emigration of educated and liberal Israelis in recent years is not a "clear gain" for Netanyahu. That's because Israel is neither Iran nor Russia. A tiny country surrounded by enemies, it does not have the privilege of falling behind. It cannot afford to lose its educated and liberal residents. It must have technological superiority. And it must preserve its special status in the world in order to preserve and expand its alliances.

This is where antisemitism enters the picture. In response to the domino effect of countries recognizing a Palestinian state, Netanyahu sent furious letters this week to French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
He accused Albanese of not knowing how to deal with what he said was "a campaign of intimidation, vandalism and violence against Jews" that in Australia "has intensified under your watch." He accused Macron of pouring "fuel on this antisemitic fire." What manipulations, Oh la la.

Netanyahu seeks to identify every protest against Israel with antisemitism. In his letter to Macron, he noted that El Al's offices in Paris were spray-painted with the slogans "El Al genocide airline" and "Free Palestine." This was a political protest aimed directly at the national carrier of a country whose actions in the Gaza Strip are being called genocide around the world. Antisemitism? Only for someone who has made identifying Israel with Judaism the cornerstone of his strategy – Netanyahu.

This identification isn't naive; it's calculated. Contrary to what he says, Netanyahu isn't interested in suppressing the spread of antisemitism, but in fanning it. Yes, you need to read that several times to digest the fact that such things are being said in all seriousness about Israel's prime minister.

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https://archive.md/6Hgin