Netanyahu critic Nadler calls congressional address ‘dishonest’

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler tells The Times of Israel that he thought Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress earlier today was “dishonest,” but that he is still glad he went.

“He talked about seeking victory and that he wants the hostages home, but he’s been throwing more conditions in and he actually wants to prevent a deal,” says Nadler.

Yesterday, the veteran Jewish lawmaker branded Netanyahu “the worst leader in Jewish history since the Maccabean king who invited the Romans into Jerusalem over 2100 years ago.”

Before today’s speech he posted a picture of himself reading “The Netanyahu years” by Ben Caspit, a prominent Israeli journalist and Netanyahu critic. Nadler brought the book with him into the chamber as well, but says he didn’t read it while Netanyahu was speaking.

Nadler claims Netanyahu doesn’t want a hostage deal because this would hasten the launch of an inquiry into his conduct surrounding the war. “The moment he’s out of office, he’ll be prosecuted,” he says.

Nadler says he went to the speech to support Israel, not the prime minister and thinks there are better ways to show disagreement with Netanyahu than boycotting the speech, as some 70 other Democrats did.