If you didn’t watch the interview last night between CNN’s Jake Tapper and Benjamin Netanayu, you should. I am sure it will be played again and again over the next few days.

Here are my takeaways:

1. Netanyahu is still a very smooth talker and a very good diplomat.
2. Jake Tapper asked some very good questions, although he did not touch on most of the domestic issues that are arising as a result of the extreme right wing elements in the current government, with the exception of the plans to curtail the strength of the Supreme Court. Perhaps, this is because the other internal Israeli issues are not of interest to the greater public; perhaps there just wasn’t time; perhaps he did ask the questions and they were edited out.
3. In talking about the Supreme Court, Netanayu made the following points: (1) The Supreme Court has become too strong and, with the ability to cancel decisions of the Knesset, has made Israel less democratic, not more, (2) to allow the Knesset to overrule decisions of the Supreme Court would bring Israel in line with countries such as Canada, the UK, and New Zealand; it is the US that is the outlier, (3) there are details in the government’s reform proposal that people aren’t paying attention to, because they are acting on instinct, and some of the critiques are just not accurate, and (4) he is waiting for a counter-proposal, and would be happy to consider any modifications, including modifications which would increase the number of Knesset members who could vote to overrule the Supreme Court from his proposal’s simple majority. (I realize that I know nothing about how the highest courts work in the former British colonies or elsewhere and I certainly realize that the American system has its flaws; maybe I should study and rethink this.)
4. He believes Putin was completely wrong in invading Ukraine, but Israel’s position is complicated in part because Russians are in Syria and Israel wants to make sure that Iran stays out of Syria, so Russians and Israel together control Syrian airspace, and they need to keep cooperating or Iran may get a stronger foothold.
5. The Americans have taken American weaponry that they have placed in Israel and moved it to Ukraine (It’s the US perogative to do so, and Israel hasn’t complained), and Netanyahu’s job is to keep Israel safe, but Israel has been taking action against Iran’s manufacture of non-nuclear weapons, which would otherwise go to Russia for use in Ukraine.
6. Israel kept Iraq and Syria from getting nuclear weapons; it will keep Iran from becoming nuclear, as well. Iran does not want war with Israel because it knows it will lose.
7. Don’t worry about Ben Gvir or Smotrich, because Netanyahu has both hands on the government steering wheel. Some of these right wing guys say things before they are in public office, but then moderate.
8. Netanyahu and Biden have been friends for 40 years, even when they disagree. He thinks Biden is, from his heart, a strong supporter of Israel. Trump did great things for Israel, but he isn’t going to comment on who should be the Republican candidate in 2024. Trump’s meetings with Kanye West and Fuentes were big mistakes.
9. Because the Palestinians want to eliminate Israel, working anything out with them seems to be impossible. So Netanyahu thinks that the way to go is for Israel to work things out with the other Arabs and then they will all be in position to get to Palestinians to face reality and negotiate.
10. Any Palestinian state would give the Palestinian full autonomy to run their economy and their country, BUT security has to remain in the hands of Israel. Presumably, that would mean that raids, such as the raid in Jenin last week, could continue.
11. He didn’t say that he still favors a full Palestinian state. They didn’t talk about the relationship between the West Bank and Gaza, only that every time Israel pulled away (Lebanon and Gaza), militants took over.
12. He is not going to change the rules governing the Temple Mount. He is not going to change the Right of Return. (Remember, he has both hands on the steering wheel). He doesn’t believe in collective punishment, but believes that taking action against the family members of terrorists, those who condone, participate or support the activities, acts as a deterrent.
13. He has been chosen prime minister for the 6th time, because during his other 5 times, Israel has been safe and prosperous.
14. You have to have a strong military and create a credible threat to reach peace with others in Middle East.
15. If asked by all parties, he’d consider acting as a Russian/Ukrainian mediator, as long as it didn’t take him away from his responsibilities towards Israel.
16. Response to antisemitism abroad? Keep Israel strong and cooperate with the many governments which are fighting antisemitism.
17. He also wants to keep Israel’s economy strong.