Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fairly bounded into the room at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, where a bevy of international journalists and camera crews had been waiting for him for nearly half an hour.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said, with a broad smile as he leaned over the podium. “Go ahead, ask your questions.”
It was Dec. 6, the final evening of a four-day conference of editors and senior reporters from Jewish media outlets around the world, and the semi-exclusive news conference with Netanyahu was to be the culmination of our gathering. Forward editor Jane Eisner, the evening’s moderator, began reading her prepared question, but after a sentence or two the prime minister interrupted with a wave of his hand.
“Ask me about Israel’s isolation in the world,” he demanded.
Eisner continued her question. Again, he cut her off.
“Is this a question or a speech?” he demanded with a laugh. “Go ahead, ask me about Israel’s isolation in the world.”
So began what we expected would be a routine question and answer session, but what turned out to be more of a rollicking free-for-all that veered from classroom instruction — complete with slide show — to slapstick comedy, to flat-out politicking.
The longtime Israeli leader’s jovial mood darkened only slightly as he responded quickly and somewhat impatiently to a series of questions from several hand-picked European journalists before giving up and launching into a proud recitation of Israeli accomplishments in technology, medical research, water reclamation and dairy production. (“Whose cows give the most milk?” he boomed, as a bar graph showing comparative bovines was projected on the wall. “The Netherlands? No, Israel!”)
Finally Eisner also gave up, and, throwing up her hands, implored, “So, tell us. What about Israel’s isolation in the world?”
Netanyahu faced the crowd square on, and the main part of the evening commenced. “I’m the prime minister, but I’m also the foreign minister,” he reminded us. “How many meetings did I have this year with foreign leaders?” Silence in the room. A voice piped up. “Two thousand?”
“Two thousand?” he frowned. “No, try again.” Another voice: “Two hundred?” Netanyahu smiled. “Two hundred and fifty! That’s nearly one a day.”
He reeled off his schedule for the next few days: Greece, Cyprus and Honduras. Over the past month he’s met with representatives from China, Japan, Russia, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore, and he recently went to four African countries. Trade agreements, joint ventures, cybersecurity, water projects — Israel’s fingers are in a lot of pies.
“The great powers of Asia, Africa, Latin America are all coming to Israel, at an unbelievable pace. Why is this happening?” He waited for a response, before offering his own. “Israel is at the nexus of the great change that is happening — big data, connectivity, high-tech. This is an explosion, and all these countries understand that Israel is a global force in technology.
“We have one-tenth of 1 percent of the world’s population, and in 2016 we have 20 percent of the total global investment in cybersecurity. We are punching 200 times above our weight. We have 400 startups in automotive technology, in driverless cars. General Motors was just here, they said Israel is the best.”
Turning more serious, he explained that as Islamist terror grows around the world, more nations are turning to Israel to provide them with advanced security protection. And not just from the Third World.
“In the Middle East, many countries understand that Israel is their ally, not their enemy — their ally in fighting militant Islam,” he said. “I’m very hopeful. That’s how we get to peace.”
Now, how about those prepared questions from the foreign journalists?
Anti-Semitism in the United States: “It’s a fringe phenomenon, whether coming from the extreme left or the extreme right. Anti-Semitism is taking root in Europe, but the United States is different. The ethos is different. Of course, it should be fought wherever it appears.”
Why hasn’t the Kotel agreement been implemented: “Our political system works in starts and fits. It’s equal opportunity provocation from both sides. When I say the Kotel is for all Jews, I mean it. When I say Israel is the homeland for all Jews, I mean it.”
The alt-right in Europe pretends to love Israel — does he return their affection: “Any expression of anti-Semitism or racism is anathema to us. That will be our litmus test.”
Israel is now 68th in the world in terms of freedom of the press: “That’s ridiculous. Israel has the freest press in the world.” Offering as proof that the Israeli media rarely says anything nice about him, he countered, “But free speech is not just for journalists.”
Glancing at his watch, Netanyahu announced the evening was over. Not yet, Eisner implored. One final question.
“Last month I was with President Obama in the Oval Office, and I asked him what was his favorite kind of bagel,” she began. “So, Mr. Prime Minister, let me ask you that same question.”
Netanyahu thought for a second. “Sesame,” he said. “No, poppy seed.”
“That’s the same as President Obama,” said Eisner. “You agree with the president.”
“We agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding,” Netanyahu pointed out, referring to the recently signed 10-year security arrangement between Israel and the United States. “That’s a $35 billion-dollar bagel.”
J. Editor Sue Fishkoff was the guest of Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government Press Office at the 2016 Jewish Media Summit Dec. 4-7 in Jerusalem.