When ‘prophets’ become memes: The rise and fall of Benjamin Netanyahu

Great orators in history would not have been recognised as such if their words carried no value. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is neither a great orator, nor did his speech before a joint session of Congress on 24 July have actual worth. It was an expression of his desperation, if not defeat, on all fronts.

This is not new. For years, Netanyahu has served the role of a social media meme. During his UN General Assembly speech in September 2012, the Israeli leader displayed a drawing of a bomb to fan the flames for another Middle East war. His equally bizarre map of the “New Middle East”, which he held aloft during another UNGA speech on 22 September, 2023, also invited mockery.

On both occasions, though, as at other times, Netanyahu’s strategy was never intended for humour. His theatrics were carried out with the knowledge that the global media would not miss the opportunity to highlight his performance with much interest.

What he actually said on such occasions would often go unchallenged.

Moreover, until 7 October, Netanyahu’s possible risk factors, resulting from what may seem to us as outrageous behaviour and outlandish speeches, were quite minimal. On the contrary, for his Israeli constituency, appearing on the world stage with such media fanfare was always a reason for yet greater approval. To his followers, Netanyahu served the role of the “modern-day prophet”.

“There are very few leaders left in Israel or around the world with the capacity to fully grasp and articulate the historical and prophetic relevance of what is happening in Israel, the Middle East and around the world today,” wrote David Lazarus on 9 October, 2020, almost exactly three years before the Hamas operation in southern Israel, and the most destructive Israeli war which followed.

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However, the supposed visionary has failed to read all the signs, not only in the lead-up to the war, but to the disastrous impact of the genocide that his troops are committing, which will haunt his country for many years to come. The majority of Israelis have now abandoned their prophet, according to numerous opinion polls.

Yet, Netanyahu appears unperturbed. He spoke at the US Congress with near total lack of awareness of the new reality emanating from his failed policies and botched reading of history.

For those who may not know, Netanyahu also sells himself to Israelis as an intellectual. His intellect involves “exposing the deception” of the centrality of the Palestinian cause to the Middle East, or the so-called “theory of Palestinian centrality”. To counter that “big lie”, Netanyahu is dedicated to the notion of the “reversal of causality”, as in challenging the notion that Israel — namely the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other Arab lands — is the main cause of the problems in the Middle East.

Until recently, the man’s theories have garnered much traction, enough, in fact, to temporarily marginalise the Palestinian cause, and to invest in new ways of shaping a “new Middle East”, where Palestine simply is not on the map. These illusions, however, continue to crumble. Instead of Netanyahu pushing the reset button that would shape the Middle East according to Israeli priorities and interests, the Palestinians have pushed it.

This time around, Netanyahu had no theories, no actual solutions, no prophetic visions, not even a ridiculous map or cartoon bomb to save his life or career.

So, isolated by much of the world, he rushed to the only place where he would feel safe, where people would clap for him unconditionally, even before he spoke a word: the US Congress. And, indeed, clap they did; 39 times, including 23 standing ovations, and for a total of 10 minutes and 55 seconds to be exact. But even the jolly bunch of US representatives who agreed to be part of that tragic charade will not save Netanyahu.

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Here, a quick pause is needed, in appreciation for those who refused to attend Netanyahu’s speech of lies, and in admiration for US-Palestinian Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who held a sign throughout the whole event, reminding us, and the world, that Netanyahu is a “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide”.

Netanyahu is not a pathological liar, as is often alleged by his enemies and detractors, in Israel and elsewhere. He does lie, though, because, at times, not telling the truth is convenient, especially when there is no accountability for lying, time and again.

In his Congress speech, however, Netanyahu did more than simply lie. He had the audacity to call millions of Americans who protested against his war “Iran’s useful idiots”, while perpetuating the right-wing language on the “clash between barbarism against civilisation”.

Although a few were truly impressed, even his closest allies are abandoning him. Former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi described his speech as “by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honoured with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States.” Many others found him insincere, including his own people.

When Netanyahu mattered, his speeches often led to wars, or major regional instability. But Netanyahu no longer matters, except for a few US politicians vying for re-election.

The Israeli leader had hoped to press the reset button and return to his silly theories about the irrelevance of Palestine to the Middle East, and the world. He was proven wrong, again, exposing himself as a false prophet and a failed leader.

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.