Netanyahu Blasts 'Hypocrisy' in Europe Over Israel

Speaking to the Foreign Press Corps on December 18, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu criticized what he called “hypocrisy” in Europe over Israel and Palestine. He referred to the decision of a European Union court to no longer recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, and the resolution of the European Parliament on Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu insisted that Israel “is the bulwark of European values,” calling it a tolerant, pluralist, vibrant democracy. Equal rights, he said, are “vigorously protected”. He said half of Palestinian society has embraced Islamic extremism, while the other half fail to confront the issue. Blasting Switzerland’s call for Israel to be investigated for war crimes, he asserted that Hamas has repeatedly committed war crimes. Hamas, he said, “is a terrorist organization committed to Israel’s destruction.” He said “peace will only come when the Palestinians are willing to confront their own extremists.” Credit: YouTube/IsraeliPM