Netanyahu: “My wife decides when to strike”

Hours after delivering a fiery and defiant address before the United Nations General Assembly, 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu found himself navigating a different kind of tightrope at a Friday night Shabbat reception at the ‘Israeli’ Consulate in New York.

In a moment that blurred the line between jest and a deeply sensitive political admission, the Prime Minister joked to those gathered that his wife, Sara, holds the ultimate sway over his premiership and even military strategy.

“My wife writes all my speeches, she decides everything, even when to strike,” Netanyahu said.

He then anticipated his critics' response in his opinion: “It’s recorded, he admitted it, Netanyahu slipped up.”

The Prime Minister’s joke directly engaged with a controversial narrative that has shadowed his political career for nearly two decades: the perception that Sara Netanyahu wields significant influence over political and even national security appointments and decisions.

Netanyahu has often been a focal point for media and political scrutiny in ‘Israel’, regularly making headlines for her prominent presence at diplomatic events and her alleged involvement in government decisions.

In the past, senior political figures have publicly substantiated this narrative. For instance, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon claimed that the Prime Minister required candidates for the sensitive position of military secretary to be interviewed by his wife, who allegedly held a "final say" over the appointment.

The couple has consistently labeled such media criticism as a "witch hunt" perpetuated by a hostile press and political opponents.

Hebrew media, often critical of the Netanyahus, has previously run columns and exposed accusations against her.