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Netanyahu appeals to Ukraine, Germany, the UK and Italy for support

October 9, 2023 at 4:16 pm

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 20, 2023 in New York City [Kena Betancur/Getty Images]

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently appealed to the leaders of Ukraine, Germany the UK and Italy for official support following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement’s attack on the occupation state on Saturday.

READ: Netanyahu vows to ‘change the Middle East’ with attack on Gaza

Netanyahu had telephone conversations with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni. Scholz has since announced the suspension of aid to Palestine, while Sunak had a giant Israeli flag projected onto No 10 Downing Street, his official residence.

This, say critics, was pure gesture politics, given that Downing Street is closed to the public. Nevertheless, he is said to have told government buildings to fly the Israeli flag, and is reported by the Guardian to be “poised” to offer Israel military help if required.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office said that all of the leaders mentioned supported Israel’s right to defend itself. Under international law, of course, it is the Palestinians living under Israel’s brutal military occupation who have the legitimate right to defend themselves, not the occupation state.

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