- Title: Netanyahu accuses Israel's left, media of trying to oust him
- Date: 9th August 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING: "Both the left-wing (opposition) and the media, who are one and the same, know this, they are enlisting now in an obsessive, unprecedented hunt against me and my family, aiming to oust the government." NETANYAHU AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING: "The media and the left, which serves it, find it hard to accept so they contrive endless scandals, endless reports and endless headlines so that maybe, maybe something will stick, if not submarines then cigars, if not cigars then conversations with a publisher, if not case 1000 and case 2000, if not 2000 then 3000, 4000, 5000, they demand from the law-enforcement authorities: 'give us something, doesn't matter what'." CROWD CLAPPING FOR NETANYAHU/ NETANYAHU AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING: "We heard the day before yesterday that senior Palestinian officials, and I quote: "Are yearning to Netanyahu's downfall because of the investigations", it is clear because they also want Israel to withdraw to the 1967 lines and establish a Palestinian state on the outskirts of (Israeli city) Kfar Saba. My friends, they too will be disappointed, because it won't happen."
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2017 21:16
- Keywords: Likud event supporting Israeli PM Netanyahu Netanyahu giving speech
- Location: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- City: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0026TFRRRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (August 9) lashed out at Israel's political left-wing and the media, whom he accused of doing its bidding, and said they were trying to overthrow him.
Netanyahu spoke to hundreds of members of his right-wing Likud party who turned out at a rally which had the air of an election victory celebration as they waved Israeli flags and banners and chanted Netanyahu's nickname, "Bibi, Bibi."
In his 11 years of office, the conservative Netanyahu, who last won elections in 2015, has weathered several scandals and police inquiries. His approval ratings are generally solid, putting him ahead of potential challengers.
The Israeli leader has described the din of criminal investigations around him as "background noise" and has dismissed speculation he will be forced to resign by saying simply on Facebook this week: "Won't happen."
Netanyahu, 67, has been questioned under caution by police in two cases. One, "Case 1000" deals with gifts given to him and his family by businessmen, and another, "Case 2000" is related to conversations he held with an Israeli publisher. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
