From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Netanyahu slams ‘defamation campaign’ against rescued hostage for joining him in DC
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is “horrified” by criticism aimed at rescued hostage Noa Argamani over her decision to accompany the premier to Washington.
“I am horrified by the defamation campaign directed against Noa Argamani. Noa went through atrocities in Hamas captivity,” Netanyahu says in Hebrew at the start of a meeting with US Christian Zionists.
“Is there no limit?” asks Netanyahu. “There is a limit. This is the limit. Enough.”
Argamani, who was rescued last month from captivity in Gaza along with three other hostages seized by terrorists during the Hamas-led October 7 massacre, is accompanying Netanyahu on his trip to the United States alongside her father Yaakov and other relatives of captives.
Explaining his remarks to the Christian leaders, Netanyahu says in English, “Now that she joined our delegation, there are voices who said how dare you go? You should have stayed in captivity.'”
“There is a fringe minority that is devoid of any scruples,” says Netanyahu. “Enough is enough.”
Argamani and her father have faced virulent criticism in Israel for agreeing to accompany Netanyahu on his visit to the US and during his speech to Congress tomorrow; both coalition and opposition lawmakers have condemned the pushback.
Family members of other hostages held by Hamas and others opposed to the premier claimed the Argamanis appearance would bolster Netanyahu, whom many blame for failing to secure a deal to free the hostages after more than nine months of war.
In a post on Facebook Monday, left-wing Haaretz pundit Uri Misgav — a vehement critic of Netanyahu — said that Argamani and her father “should be ashamed of agreeing to serve as decor” for Netanyahu and retired journalist Dan Margalit called Argamani’s presence in Netanyahu’s delegation a “disgrace,” in a tweet to his 164,000 followers.
The Times of Israel Community.