Judy: As we reported, Ukraine is
asking the Israeli government
for air defense assistance to
combat Russia's campaign of
drone strikes that are crippling
critical infrastructure.
That request comes as Israelis
are poised to head to the polls
for the fifth time in the last
several years to elect a new
government.
Israel's longest-serving prime
minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is
running to regain the post he
lost last year.
I spoke with him this afternoon
about a host of issues facing
Israel and the world as well as
his new memoir, "Bibi: My
story" which is out this week.
Prime minister Netanyahu, thank
you for talking with us.
I want to tap -- want to ask you
about the book.
But let me start with the news
from Ukraine.
The Russians are now under
pressure, they are aiming
indiscriminately at Ukrainian
civilians, using these drones,
killing people after months of
pounding civilians in that
country.
Is there a good defense for what
Vladimir Putin is doing?
Pm Netanyahu: No.
But I think beyond the tragedy
and horrors of Ukraine, there is
a larger issue of where this
conflict is going.
A year ago, it seemed it would
be contained and resolved.
Within the confines of Ukraine.
I certainly hoped that would be
the case.
I no longer can say that this
conflict will not spiral out of
control, and have ominous global
implications.
The most common is one's, aside
from a shortage of food,
shortage of wheat, printing, and
the other horrible things
happening that could affect
countries around the world, I
think the possibility of a
nuclear exchange or the use of
nuclear weapons is something
that I would have discounted
completely a year ago and I
would not like -- and it would
not be likely.
It is no longer impossible.
It is the greatest horror that
we face after 77 years in which
the world has not witnessed the
use of these weapons.
Judy: In the meantime, this is a
conventional war, we are seeing
Russia pound civilians and you
said you feel Israel's position
on the war is mainly correct.
Largely staying out of it and
denying repeated requests from
Ukraine for lethal weapons.
Today, there were reports that
Ukraine is asking Israel for
early morning -- warning defense
equipment.
Why not make that available?
Pm Netanyahu: The government has
decided --
they are going to elections in
two weeks.
They have decided to basically
limit support to substantial
humanitarian aid.
We have taken in more Ukrainian
refugees, Jews and non-jews,
more than any other countries.
Judy: I'm asking because as you
know, the question is out there,
at what point does it make sense
to respond to these humanitarian
needs rather than worrying or
being mainly focused on
placating Vladimir Putin because
of Syria?
Pm Netanyahu: It is not
placating.
Russia and Israeli planes are
flying next to each other, and
could bump into each other.
Could provoke a russian-israeli
war.
That is the region -- reason
there is caution.
You could ask the same question,
why doesn't nato intervene?
Because it is complicated.
And even though there are
unquestionable horrors being
perpetrated against the
Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian
civilians, there is the larger
question of what happens when
one side has nuclear weapons?
I think that leads to the point
I have been trying to make for
decades.
It is bad enough that you have
these nuclear weapons.
Do you want Iran to have nuclear
weapons?
And threatened the entire world,
chanting death to America, and
America the great Satan?
Not a good idea.
Judy: I want to ask you about
Iran.
In documents recently released,
former president Obama is
described as putting you in the
camp of world leaders who
subscribe to what he called
putinism.
We were reminded that there were
billboards in Israel and an
election in 2019 that showed you
with Vladimir Putin.
Is he still your friend, your
ally?
Pm Netanyahu: I don't know if he
was my ally, but we had a common
interest in Syria and avoiding
an Israeli war.
I worked that corridor because I
thought it was in the interests
of my country.
It was not a love affair, as
people describe it.
I also disagreed with president
Obama, not for the first time,
one.
Erdogan was one of his closest
friends.
And I have had a running feud
with erdogan.
I suppose our relations with
Turkey have improved because he
called me hitler's not every six
hours, but every 12 hours.
Heard about the category of
president Obama described him
then.
He was also very friendly to the
regime in Tehran.
You can see what that regime and
mounts two.
It is murdering its citizens.
It's brave women were coming out
and fighting for their freedom.
I'm sorry.
No, I am not an authoritarian.
Judy: When it comes to Iran, you
have argued all along that the
Iran nuclear deal was a mistake.
Former president trump agreed
with you.
He saw that the U.S. Pulled out
of that deal.
It is now in great jeopardy
whether that deal will ever be
revived.
In the meantime, Iran has built
up its nuclear capacity.
Is closer than ever to having a
bomb.
How is Israel safer as a result
of what you advocated?
Pm Netanyahu: The deal does not
stop it.
I described this in my book, I
sent Assad to the heart of
Tehran to build -- to pilfer the
atomic archives of Iran.
Hi we would not could even begin
to describe -- Hollywood will
not even begin to describe the
streets of Tehran.
And they brought the archive of
Iran to Israel.
When we looked at it, we could
see that they were cheating.
As early as 2003, they had a
secret plan to build five atomic
bombs, Hiroshima style bombs,
and then they hid this program
under civilian guys.
Iran cheats.
There is no way to stop them.
You can sign 100 degree -- 100
agreements with them.
Around is the worst of all
because it is a radical islamic
regime that is fundamentally
opposed to our free way of life,
our free societies, and chance
"Death to America."
That is only going to be
stopped, not by any agreement,
it is going to be stopped by a
combination of crippling
economic sanctions, and a
credible military option.
If you are not paired to do
that, don't hide behind the
agreements.
They merrily pave Iran's path
through the bomb with gold, with
hundreds of billions of dollars
that they use both to accelerate
their nuclear program, and also
to get aggression throughout
Middle East and the world.
You want to stop Iran?
Stop it now.
Stop it before they have nuclear
weapons.
Once they do, you are not good
to be able to.
Judy: In the book, I want to
focus on that, you detail your
relationships with a number of
American presidents and
succession going back to
president Reagan, president
bush, both presidents bush.
When it comes to president
trump, it looked too many of us
things to say about what he did
for Israel, what his posture was
towards Israel.
Yet, prime minister Netanyahu,
it is within the last few days
that there are questions being
raised about whether former
president trump has made
anti-semitic remarks.
You saw it.
He said American Jews should
support Israel "Before it's too
late."
What do you make of that?
Pm Netanyahu: I don't think he
is anti-semitic.
His daughter-in-law -- his
daughter married his son-in-law
who is jewish.
His grandchildren are jewish.
As far as Israel is concerned,
he did do great things for
Israel and I appreciate it.
I appreciate the fact that he
recognized Jerusalem as our
capital, which is common sense
and common history.
The fact that he moved the
American embassy there.
That he recognized our
sovereignty in Golan heights
from which we were attacked
repeatedly by Syria.
And you pulled out of the Iran
deal.
I am appreciative of that.
It does not get me into the
thick of American politics which
is thick and deep.
I have enough of my own politics
here.
I'm thick and it right now, as
you can imagine, because I have
taken a break to have this
conversation in the midst of
campaigning.
Judy: And we appreciate it.
Speaking of politics I want to
ask you quickly about something
big.
Not only where do the
Palestinians go from here, what
sort of life do you foresee for
them in the years, generations
to come, but in the selection at
a time when your country is so
divided, and you are seeing as a
divisive figure, how do you
bring your country together?
Pm Netanyahu: First of all, and
a lot of Israelis prefer me to
be prime minister.
My party is well ahead in the
polls at any other party.
And they recognize too that if
we let the Palestinians, whose
leaders still cling to the
fantasy of destroying Israel, if
we let them veto the peace
agreements that we would have
with the Arab world, they are
going to let the 1% or 2% of the
Arab world, the tailwagging, the
Arab body, and I said enough of
that.
We have four peace treaties in
four months.
Something we did not have 472
years, or 25 years since the
peace treaties.
That has created a wonderful
change.
Judy: Can you see a home for the
Palestinians in years to come?
Pm Netanyahu: Yes.
I think they can live a life of
dignity and a life of freedom.
But security under any peace
agreement will remain in our
hands.
If not, you will see Iran
overtaking them and threatening
us.
That will not be good for peace
and will not be good for anyone.
Judy: Former prime minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, thank you
very much.
Pm Netanyahu: Thank you, Judy.
Good talking to you.