This segment from Last Week Tonight provides a critical examination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political career, arguing that his actions have been primarily driven by a singular focus on maintaining power, often at immense human and geopolitical cost. The piece traces his political origins, from his father's revisionist Zionism to his rise through the Likud party by vehemently opposing the Oslo Accords, a campaign that included rhetoric many blamed for inciting the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
The segment details Netanyahu's domestic challenges, including multiple corruption charges involving bribery and fraud, which prosecutors allege involved quid pro quo arrangements for favorable media coverage. His wife, Sara Netanyahu, is also profiled as a controversial figure known for lavish spending and a volatile temper, evidenced by a widely circulated audio recording. To shore up his political base amidst these scandals, Netanyahu formed a coalition with far-right extremists like Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, figures known for their violent rhetoric and hardline anti-Palestinian stances.
The core of the argument focuses on the ongoing war in Gaza. Oliver posits that Netanyahu's long-term strategy of deliberately strengthening Hamas to divide the Palestinian leadership backfired catastrophically, contributing to the security failures of October 7th. The segment concludes that Netanyahu is now prolonging the devastating war—causing immense suffering and delaying the return of hostages—primarily for his own political survival, to avoid facing his corruption trials and to appease his extremist coalition partners.
John Oliver on Netanyahu: A Breakdown of Power, Politics, and Controversy
00:01:32 A "Strong Man" Persona: Benjamin Netanyahu has built his decades-long political career on the image of being the only leader strong enough to keep Israel safe. A famous campaign ad depicts him as a "babysitter" for the nation.
00:03:05 Supported for Being an "SOB": The segment highlights that even some of Netanyahu's supporters describe him as a belligerent liar, viewing these traits as necessary for a leader to stand up to the world.
00:05:40 Political and Familial Background: Netanyahu grew up influenced by his father's "revisionist Zionism," an uncompromising ideology focused on military strength. His political career gained momentum following the heroic death of his brother, Yoni, during the Entebbe hostage rescue.
00:07:00 Rise to Power and Rabin's Assassination: Netanyahu made his name campaigning fiercely against the Oslo Accords and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He participated in rallies where Rabin was depicted in a Nazi uniform and was filmed leading a mock funeral, stoking an atmosphere that many, including Rabin's widow, believe led to his assassination by a far-right extremist.
00:08:51 Viewing America as "Easily Pushed": In a secretly recorded 2001 clip, Netanyahu boasted that America "is something that can be easily pushed" in the direction Israel wants, a core tenet of his foreign policy approach.
00:12:06 Widespread Corruption Allegations: Netanyahu faces serious charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases. These include accepting lavish gifts (cigars and champagne, allegedly referred to with code words "leaves" and "roses") and trading political favors for positive media coverage.
00:14:32 Sara Netanyahu's Controversies: His wife, Sara, is depicted as a controversial figure, nicknamed "Israel's Marie Antoinette" for misspending public funds and facing accusations of abusing staff. A leaked audio recording captures her screaming at an aide over a minor media slight.
00:18:10 Alliance with Far-Right Extremists: To maintain power, Netanyahu formed a coalition with extremist figures, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (once convicted of supporting a terrorist group) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (a self-proclaimed "proud homophobe").
00:23:43 Strategy of Strengthening Hamas: The segment argues that for years, Netanyahu deliberately allowed Qatar to funnel money to Hamas. His goal was to keep the Palestinian leadership divided, thereby preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. This strategy is presented as a catastrophic failure that contributed to the October 7th attacks.
00:26:36 Prolonging the Gaza War for Political Survival: Oliver claims Netanyahu has repeatedly extended the war in Gaza against the advice of his own military, caving to threats from his far-right partners who vowed to collapse the government if fighting stopped. This is framed as a desperate attempt to stay in power and delay his corruption trial.
00:27:17 "Urban Renewal" and "Real Estate Bonanza": Finance Minister Smotrich is shown describing the destruction in Gaza in grotesque terms, calling the demolition a first step in "urban renewal" and suggesting plans to turn Gaza into a "real estate bonanza."
00:31:39 Growing International Isolation: The video notes Netanyahu's deep unpopularity both in Israel and abroad, citing polls showing only 21% of Americans view him favorably. It highlights that the US is now one of the few nations not to recognize a Palestinian state.
00:32:46 The Final Argument: Netanyahu Must Go: The segment concludes that Netanyahu is not acting in Israel's best interests but in his own. His removal from power is presented as a necessary first step to end the suffering in Gaza, bring the hostages home, and move toward a resolution.