Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is secretly orchestrating Trump’s censorship tactics to silence any criticism of Israeli actions, regardless of how unconstitutional it might be for Americans.

At a Glance

• Netanyahu hosted a controversial antisemitism conference in Jerusalem featuring European far-right leaders, boycotted by mainstream Jewish organizations
• Trump and Netanyahu have formed a mutual admiration society where criticism of Israel is equated with antisemitism
• Free speech in America is threatened when legitimate critique of Israel’s military actions gets labeled as hate speech
• Netanyahu’s influence over Trump has shifted U.S. policy toward unconditional support of Israeli interests

Strange Bedfellows: Netanyahu’s Far-Right Alliance

When your supposed allies against antisemitism have historical connections to actual Nazis, you might want to rethink your strategy. Yet that’s exactly what Netanyahu’s government did by hosting a conference in Jerusalem filled with European far-right leaders – the same folks whose political ancestors were busy rounding up Jews not too long ago. Most mainstream Jewish leaders and organizations had the good sense to boycott this circus, but Netanyahu was too busy cozying up to his new authoritarian friends to notice the irony.

What’s truly mind-boggling is how Netanyahu can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these characters while declaring “Antisemitism is a disease carried by barbarians.” The same barbarians he’s inviting to dinner, apparently. The Israeli Prime Minister has followed Trump’s populist playbook by embracing leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and other European nationalists, creating a coalition bound not by shared values but by shared enemies – primarily Muslims and the political left.

https://t.co/D2GXLI7vQs

— The Geopol Journal (@geopoljournal) November 5, 2024

The Trump-Netanyahu Mutual Admiration Society

If there’s one thing Trump and Netanyahu excel at, it’s scratching each other’s backs. Netanyahu has repeatedly called Trump “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” while Trump has essentially granted Israel a blank check for its military operations. This unholy alliance has fundamentally reshaped U.S. policy in the Middle East, with American interests increasingly taking a backseat to whatever Netanyahu wants.

“I think that it’s really important to fight against our enemy, and specifically against Hamas and Hezbollah, but I also think that after we fight against our enemy, we need to guarantee Israel’s future as a democracy.”, says Yair Fink.

Even more disturbing is how this relationship threatens free speech in America. Under their shared worldview, any criticism of Israel’s actions – even from Jewish Americans concerned about civilian casualties – gets labeled as antisemitism. It’s classic authoritarian tactics: silence opposition by painting it as hateful. Meanwhile, Trump has gone so far as to suggest the U.S. should “take over Gaza for a long term,” essentially proposing American occupation of foreign territory. This kind of talk would have been unthinkable before Netanyahu’s influence.

https://t.co/MAupRaLhDr

— Rajai Zaghal 🫒🍉🇵🇸 (@Rajaizaghal) May 2, 2024

Free Speech Under Siege

The Constitution guarantees Americans the right to criticize any government – including Israel’s. Yet the unholy Trump-Netanyahu alliance has created a chilling effect where policy debates about billions in military aid to Israel are shut down by accusations of antisemitism. College students peacefully protesting civilian casualties in Gaza are labeled as terrorists-in-training. This isn’t about protecting Jewish people; it’s about protecting Netanyahu’s political power and silencing legitimate debate.

“Israel is a dynamic and vibrant democracy. Just like the United States, people have the right to speak out and express their views, and of course, there will be disagreement, like in any healthy democracy.”, says Tsach Saar.

The irony is that even within Israel itself, citizens are protesting Netanyahu’s policies and demanding the release of hostages and an end to the war. These Israelis aren’t antisemites – they’re patriots concerned about their nation’s future. Yet if Americans express the same concerns, they’re instantly vilified. The Constitution doesn’t have a carve-out that says “freedom of speech except when discussing Israel.” But with Netanyahu whispering in Trump’s ear, you’d never know it.