Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel, Palestine, Power, Corruption, Hate, and Peace | Lex Fridman Podcast #389

We should never, and I never set aside and say, "Oh, they're just threatening to destroy us. Uh, they won't do it." If somebody threatens to eliminate you, as Iran is doing today, and as Hitler did then, and people discounted it. Well, if somebody threatens to annihilate us, uh, take them seriously, and act to prevent it early on. Don't let them have the means to do so, because that may be too late.

The following is a conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, currently serving his sixth term in office. He's one of the most influential, powerful, and controversial men in the world, leading a right-wing coalition government at the center of one of the most intense and long-lasting conflicts and crises in human history. As we spoke, and as I speak now, large-scale protests are breaking out all over Israel over this government's proposed judicial reform that seeks to weaken the Supreme Court in a bold accumulation of power. Given the current intense political battles in Israel, our previous intention to speak for three hours was adjusted to one hour for the time being, but we agreed to speak again for much longer in the future. I will also interview people who harshly disagree with the words spoken in this conversation. I will speak with other world leaders, with religious leaders, with historians and activists, and with people who have lived and have suffered through the pain of war, destruction, and loss, that stoke the fires of anger and hate in their heart. For this, I will travel anywhere, no matter how dangerous, if there's any chance it may help add to understanding and love in the world. I believe in the power of conversation, to do just this, to remind us of our common humanity. I know I'm under-qualified and under-skilled for these conversations, so I will often fall short, and I will certainly get attacked, derided, and slandered. But I will always turn the other cheek, and use these attacks to learn, to improve, and no matter what, never give in to cynicism. This life, this world of ours is too beautiful not to keep trying, trying to do some good in whatever way each of us know how. I love you all. This is the Lex Fridman Podcast. To support it, please check out our sponsors in the description, and now, dear friends, here's Benjamin Netanyahu. You're loved by many people here in Israel and in the world, but you're also hated by many.

Mm.

In fact, I think you may be one of the, the most hated men in the world. So if there's a young man or a young woman listening to this right now who have such hate in their heart, what can you say to them to one day turn that hate into love?

I disagree with the premise of your question. Uh, I think I have, uh, I've enjoyed a very broad support around the world. There are certain, uh, corners in which we have, uh, we have this, uh, animosity that you describe, and it sort of permeates in some of the, uh, uh, the newspapers and news organs and so on, in the, in the United States. But certainly doesn't reflect the, uh, the broad support that I have. I just gave a b- uh, uh, uh, an interview on an Iranian channel. 16 million viewers. I gave another one, I just did a, uh, a little video, uh, a few years ago, 25 million viewers, from Iran. Certainly no hate there, I have to tell you. Not from the regime. Okay? And when I go around the world, uh, and I've been around the world, uh, people want to hear what we have to say, what I have to say as a leader of Israel whom they respect increasingly as a rising power in the world. So I, uh, I disagree with that. And the most important, uh, thing that goes against what you said is the respect that we receive from the Arab world, and the fact that we've made four historic peace agreements with Arab countries. They made it with me. They didn't make it with anyone else. Uh, and I respect them and they respect me. And probably more to come. So I think the premise, uh, is wrong. That's all.