Screenwriter Meni Assayag Slams Israeli Left for Supporting Palestinian Statehood

Screenwriter and media personality Meni Assayag has strongly criticized the Israeli left for its support of a Palestinian state, asserting that such a state will never be established because "there is no such thing as a Palestinian people." In a pointed post on his X account, Assayag argued that Arabs brought to the land of Israel by "occupiers" as labor cannot suddenly declare themselves a distinct people. He cited a historical and linguistic argument, claiming that the Roman Emperor Hadrian changed the name of the land to Palestine 1,900 years ago as revenge against Jews. Assayag further contended that the name "Palestine" itself is problematic, as the letter 'P' with a dagesh (strong emphasis) does not exist in Arabic, suggesting the name cannot even be pronounced by the "invented people." He accused the Israeli left of legitimizing and normalizing the idea of a Palestinian state, thereby participating in the "dissemination of a historical lie." Assayag described the Israeli left as "weak, submissive, rootless, and spineless," claiming they grant "gifts" to those who perpetrate terror against Jews. He concluded that Palestinians have "no right to a centimeter of the Holy Land," and their presence is merely a "gesture" from the "legal and exclusive owners of this land: the people of Israel."

Assayag's remarks follow a recent controversy involving advocacy activist Yosef Haddad, who has reportedly retracted some past statements. Assayag also previously drew criticism for accusing participants in the Kaplan protest movement of being "disappointed" by the failure of a Flydubai plane incident, suggesting they would be willing to sacrifice a plane with Israelis on board to overthrow the right-wing government.