Netanyahu UN Speech Sparks Viewer Backlash Against Israeli Broadcaster

During a live broadcast of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, the host, Doria Lempel, received dozens of angry messages from viewers on her mobile phone. The political tension surrounding Netanyahu's address extended beyond the UN hall and into the newsroom of Channel 13. Viewers, upset that Netanyahu was given airtime, distributed Lempel's phone number and sent messages criticizing the decision. The messages, reportedly from over a dozen different numbers, stated, "The Prime Minister is boycotting you. Why are you giving him propaganda time and PR again?"

Protesters also urged the journalists in the studio to adopt a more critical stance, imploring them to "do journalism: cover the speech, fact-check it, provide context, and refute false information... Don't be a decoration. You are journalists!" The article notes that Netanyahu's international appearances frequently generate political and media debate.

Earlier, Netanyahu had emphasized the importance of international experience and communication skills for an Israeli leader, particularly concerning the Iranian nuclear program. He stated that such communication must occur "also from the podiums of the UN and Congress, in English." When asked if this was a jab at Benny Gantz's perceived language deficiencies, Netanyahu responded affirmatively, calling it "certainly a problem for someone who wants to be Prime Minister of Israel, because you need to be a leading figure on the world stage." Netanyahu also criticized Gantz's general abilities, saying, "He, in my opinion, generally has difficulty expressing his ideas... His path has always been one of running away from making important decisions."