Article in 'Haaretz' - "Netanyahu commits deception"
From an article B. Haaretz' on November 10, 2013
In basketball, a 'head trick' is a drill where a player turns his head in one direction to fool his guard and then dribbles to the other side. Netanyahu demonstrated yesterday how to perform a perfect rhetorical 'head trick'.
For those who didn't follow, Netanyahu gave a short and painful speech yesterday in which he poured his heart out on Iran and the agreements with it. It was a short but powerful speech: cynical ("The Iranians are walking around Geneva satisfied. Rightfully so. They got the deal of the century"), diplomatic ("Many countries in the region oppose the agreement") but threatening ("Israel does not consider itself bound by the agreement and will defend security').
Here is an Israeli prime minister defending the existence of the state
So where is the deception?
Because in the middle of the speech Netanyahu changes the subject and turns his speech into a speech about the settlements. He uses the same mournful and angry tone to make it clear that the Iranian bomb and the settlement freeze are the same thing. In fact, Netanyahu is attacking Secretary of State Kerry and the 5 powers for believing the Palestinians as they fell victim to Iranian deception.
This is a brilliant rhetorical move because Netanyahu has taken a position where there is a full consensus behind him (who opposes the disarmament of Iran?) and then uses that consensus to attack Israel's allies for their position on a much less agreed issue such as continued construction in the settlements.
Just as basketball geniuses know how to turn their head to one side and then dribble to the other side without losing speed, Netanyahu also managed to maintain the same level of emotional energy and inner conviction in the transition he made, something that put him in the top league of speakers and orators.
Netanyahu proved once again why he is the number 1 rhetorician in Israel, who is able to sell ice to Eskimos. He also mentioned again why every time he comes to sell something, his sheikhs look left and right to check, maybe they are Eskimos coming to sell them ice...
To watch more interviews – To schedule a conversation with Guy Yariv – to coordinate interviews
