Netanyahu defends criticism of Nation State Law

Netanyahu thanks Trump for supporting Israel at the UN, saying that criticism of Israel in the international body, including that of the recently passed Nation State Law, is anti-Semitic.

“I want to use this opportunity to express Israel’s appreciation for President Trump and Ambassador Haley for the support they provide to Israel at the United Nations,” he says to applause.

“Israel airlifted Ethiopian Jews to freedom and a new life in Israel, in the Jewish state. Yet here at the UN, Israel is absurdly accused of racism. Israel’s Arab citizens have exactly the same rights as all other Israeli citizens. but here Israel is shamefully accused of apartheid,” he says.

“It’s the same old anti-Semitism with a brand new face. That’s all it is.”

Turning to the Nation State Law, Netanyahu says: “Once it was the Jewish people who were slandered and held to a different standard. Today it is the Jewish state which is slandered and held to a different standard.”Israel is called racist for making Hebrew its national language?”

“This is downright preposterous,” he charges. “There are more than 50 countries that have crosses or crescents on their flags. And dozens of countries that define themselves as the nation-state of their peoples. None of these countries are libeled for celebrating their national identity.”