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Netanyahu at War (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

FRONTLINE PBS | Official・80 minutes read

Benjamin Netanyahu battles with Barack Obama over the nuclear deal with Iran, presenting himself as a protector of the Jewish people and clashing with the U.S. President's foreign policy legacy. Netanyahu's warnings against the Iran deal to Congress do not prevent its passage, leading to strained relations and escalating tensions between the U.S. and Israel.

Insights

  • Benjamin Netanyahu is deeply committed to halting President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, positioning himself as a protector of the Jewish people and delivering a speech to Congress to emphasize the dangers of the agreement.
  • Netanyahu's clash with Obama over the Iran deal strained relations, with Netanyahu willing to risk diplomatic ties to combat the perceived Iranian threat, garnering both support and criticism for his stance.
  • Netanyahu's relentless focus on security and combating terrorism led to his political rise, winning elections by promising safety to a fearful population, ultimately shaping his confrontational approach towards Obama's peace efforts and the Iran deal.

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Recent questions

  • How did Benjamin Netanyahu view himself in relation to the Jewish people?

    Benjamin Netanyahu viewed himself as a savior of the Jewish people, determined to stop President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.

  • What was the main focus of Netanyahu's speech to the American Congress?

    Netanyahu's main focus in his speech to the American Congress was to warn against the Iran deal and secure his place in history by garnering support and criticism.

  • How did Netanyahu's visit to Washington DC impact relations between the U.S. and Israel?

    Netanyahu's visit to Washington DC was marked by tensions between the U.S. and Israel, with him willing to sacrifice relations to combat the Iranian threat, leading to strained relations and anger from President Obama.

  • What were the consequences of Netanyahu's opposition to the Oslo Accord?

    Netanyahu's vehement opposition to the Oslo Accord led to protests and growing tension in Israel, with some blaming him for contributing to Yitzhak Rabin's assassination and facing political consequences following Rabin's death.

  • How did Netanyahu perceive Obama's stance on the Iranian nuclear deal?

    Netanyahu perceived Obama as pushing for a Palestinian state and surrendering to Iran, leading to strained relations and lack of communication between the two leaders, despite Netanyahu's media campaign urging military action against Iran.

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Summary

00:00

Netanyahu's Conflict: Warning Against Iran Deal

  • Benjamin Netanyahu is depicted as being under siege and in conflict with the president of the United States.
  • Netanyahu is determined to stop President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, viewing himself as a savior of the Jewish people.
  • He delivers a speech to the American Congress, aiming to warn against the Iran deal and secure his place in history.
  • Netanyahu's visit to Washington DC is marked by tensions between the U.S. and Israel, with him willing to sacrifice relations to combat the Iranian threat.
  • His speech to the Republican-controlled Congress garners support and criticism, emphasizing the dangers of militant Islam with nuclear weapons.
  • The clash with Obama leads to strained relations and anger from the President, seen as a direct attack on his foreign policy legacy.
  • Netanyahu's early life includes military action against Palestinian militants, where he played a crucial role in freeing hostages from a hijacked plane.
  • Raised with a worldview of a hostile world against the Jewish people, Netanyahu's father instilled in him the duty to protect Israel.
  • Netanyahu's formative years in America shaped his admiration for the country, its culture, and language, influencing his later actions and decisions.
  • The Six-Day War in 1967, where Israel defeated Arab armies, was a turning point for Netanyahu, influencing his future path and sense of purpose.

16:54

Benjamin Netanyahu: Rise, Opposition, and Controversy

  • Benjamin Netanyahu, initially unknown in Israel, began his political career in the United States in the 1980s.
  • Netanyahu believes in fighting for Israel's survival, emphasizing the need for military guarantees against surrounding threats.
  • Netanyahu sees Yasser Arafat's PLO as a key player in the growth of international terrorism and aims to combat this terror.
  • Netanyahu's adeptness at representing Israel on television and his American accent make him a celebrity with the Jewish right in the US.
  • Netanyahu becomes Israeli ambassador to the United Nations at age 34, defending Israel against criticism of its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
  • Netanyahu resigns in 1988 to build his own right-wing political base in Israel.
  • The Oslo Accord, signed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, aims to end years of violence and establish a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
  • Netanyahu, as head of the Likud party, vehemently opposes the Oslo agreement, leading to protests and growing tension in Israel.
  • Netanyahu is blamed by some, including Rabin's widow, for contributing to Rabin's assassination due to his opposition to the Oslo Accord.
  • Netanyahu faces political consequences following Rabin's death, with President Clinton viewing him as a threat to the Oslo peace process.

34:21

Netanyahu's Rise Amid Oslo Accords Turmoil

  • Rabin's legacy was the Oslo accords, which was in jeopardy after his assassination.
  • Shimon Peres had to win an election against Bibi Netanyahu to continue Rabin's legacy.
  • Clinton supported Peres in the election, providing military aid and campaigning for him.
  • Netanyahu was initially behind in the polls by 31 points after Rabin's assassination.
  • Terrorist attacks, like the bombing of the Number 18 bus, disrupted the peace process.
  • Netanyahu's popularity rose as he focused on security and combating terrorism.
  • Netanyahu won the election against Peres, promising security to the fearful population.
  • Netanyahu's meeting with Clinton was tense, with disagreements over the Oslo peace process.
  • Netanyahu reluctantly shook hands with Arafat, following Clinton's demands.
  • Netanyahu's slow progress in the peace process led to frustration and a decline in political support.

51:35

Obama's Struggle with Netanyahu over Peace

  • Barack Obama emerged as a presidential candidate after a brief tenure as a senator.
  • Netanyahu was wary of Obama's liberal foreign policy views and Muslim background.
  • Obama's initial gestures towards Muslims raised concerns for Netanyahu.
  • Obama aimed to restart the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
  • Obama's political career was marked by bridging differences, influenced by Chicago's progressive Jews.
  • Obama's belief in resolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict clashed with Netanyahu's views.
  • Obama's attempts at peace faced challenges due to Hamas control in Gaza and Netanyahu's election.
  • Obama's staff, including Rahm Emanuel, advised a tough stance on Netanyahu.
  • Obama demanded a settlement freeze from Netanyahu, causing tension in their relationship.
  • Netanyahu perceived Obama as pushing for a Palestinian state, leading to strained relations.

01:08:50

Obama's Middle East Policy and Israel

  • The Palestinian issue was addressed as a just issue, not a political one, which was challenging for the Israeli public to accept.
  • The President's speech in Cairo was seen as favoring the Muslim world over Israel by some Israelis.
  • Israeli journalists viewed the President's speech and lack of visit to Israel as a disaster, causing concern among Israelis.
  • President Obama's decision not to stop in Israel was influenced by his advisors to break the mold of traditional visits.
  • Obama's advisors later admitted that skipping Israel was a mistake, impacting his reputation among Jewish Israelis.
  • Netanyahu capitalized on Obama's decision, portraying himself as a barrier against the American President.
  • Obama's envoy, George Mitchell, faced obstacles in negotiating peace between Israel and Palestine, leading to his resignation.
  • Obama's Middle East policy faced criticism and poor execution, with mounting disapproval from Jews in Israel and America.
  • Obama's involvement in the Arab Spring, particularly in Egypt, led to Mubarak's resignation, causing concern in Israel about the rise of Muslim extremists.
  • Obama's speech endorsing the 1967 borders for Israel and Palestine caused immediate backlash from Netanyahu, leading to a tense meeting between the two leaders.

01:24:12

Tensions Rise Between Obama and Netanyahu

  • President Obama faced a lecture from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in his own office, leading to tensions.
  • Netanyahu emphasized Israel's long history and struggles, deeply offending Obama and his team.
  • Obama faced pressure from Palestinians for not backing up statements against Israeli settlements with concrete actions.
  • Under Obama, the US continued to provide Israel with over $3 billion annually in military aid.
  • Netanyahu focused on the fear of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, believing it posed a significant threat to Israel.
  • Netanyahu's military and intelligence services warned of Iran's progress in producing nuclear material.
  • Israel prepared for a direct strike on Iran's nuclear program, with military buildup and advanced weaponry.
  • The US feared an Israeli strike on Iran could escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East.
  • Netanyahu sought assurance from Obama that the US would back Israel in a strike on Iran, but Obama did not commit.
  • Netanyahu's media campaign urging military action against Iran did not sway Obama, leading to strained relations and lack of communication between the two leaders.

01:40:10

"Netanyahu opposes secret US-Iran deal"

  • Israeli intelligence discovers secret U.S. negotiations with Iran in Oman, leading to Netanyahu's anger.
  • Netanyahu perceives American concessions to Iran as a betrayal, escalating tensions.
  • Kerry visits Israel as details of the secret deal emerge, prompting a heated meeting with Netanyahu.
  • Netanyahu publicly denounces the deal as dangerous and unfair to Israel.
  • Netanyahu expresses alarm over Obama's perceived surrender to Iran, leading to a tense exchange.
  • Obama attempts to convince Netanyahu of the deal's benefits, but Netanyahu remains unconvinced.
  • Netanyahu addresses Congress, urging them to block the deal, aligning with Republicans and AIPAC.
  • Despite Netanyahu's efforts, the deal proceeds, leading to increased violence in Israel and Palestine.
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