Netanyahu rejects ‘insane’ conspiracy theories that Israel was behind Charlie Kirk’s assassination

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses internet conspiracy theories that Israel was behind the deadly shooting of pro-Israel conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, telling the Newsmax outlet that the accusation is “insane.”

“That’s insane,” he tells host Greta Van Susteren, adding sarcastically, “Israel also changes the orbit of the moon, Israel pushes the sun.”

Netanyahu calls Kirk “a great human being, a great champion of free speech, free debate, freedom.”

“And we grieve for him, for his wife, Erika, for his two beautiful children.”

Netanyahu says he spoke to him by phone “a few weeks ago,” and Kirk told him he was setting up a trip to Israel. He reads from a letter Kirk wrote in May, which reads, “One of my greatest joys as a Christian is advocating for Israel and forming alliances to defend Judeo-Christian civilization.”

Netanyahu decries those “trying to basically snuff out democracy, snuff out free speech, kill those who speak like Charlie.”

“And these people are the exact opposite,” he continues. “They speak of human rights, but they trample all human rights to the dust. And the first right that we have is the right to live. They want to kill us. They try. And I think that could have a very, very negative effect unless Americans like Israelis stand up to this and say, No way, no way, we’re not going to surrender to this barbarism and to this murderous attempt to wipe out our civilization and our freedom.”