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Indyk Stands by Controversial Netanyahu Remark Amid Fierce Criticism

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The remarks are “another blatant lie by Martin Indyk, who ceaselessly badmouths and besmirches” Netanyahu, the party was quoted as saying

Former ambassador on defense after comment sparks outrage in Israel

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk is standing by his claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bemoaned the death of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, purportedly lamenting that the leader’s 1995 assassination would transform him into a “hero.”

Indyk, currently the executive vice president of the Brookings Institution, claimed in a recent interview that Netanyahu made the comment during Rabin’s funeral proceedings. The former ambassador and Obama administration official’s remarks sparked headlines in Israel and has prompted some to accuse him of fabricating the story in order to discredit Netanyahu.

“Netanyahu sat next to me when I was ambassador in Israel at the time of Rabin’s funeral,” Indyk stated in a PBS documentary that aired on Tuesday. “I remember Netanyahu saying to me: ‘Look, look at this. He’s a hero now, but if he had not been assassinated, I would have beaten him in the elections, and then he would have gone into history as a failed politician.’”

Netanyahu’s office immediately denied that the conversation took place, and some Israeli reporters are now claiming that there is no evidence to prove that Indyk was seated near Netanyahu during the funeral and accompanying proceedings.

The current prime minister’s political party, Likud, slammed Indyk, accusing him of harboring a personal grudge against Netanyahu.

The remarks are “another blatant lie by Martin Indyk, who ceaselessly badmouths and besmirches” Netanyahu, the party was quoted as saying Wednesday in the Israeli press.

Photos of the funeral itself show that Netanyahu was not anywhere near Indyk at the time.

Indyk, however, is standing by the veracity of his remarks. The diplomat told the Washington Free Beacon Wednesday afternoon that he was seated next to Netanyahu as Rabin’s coffin arrived at a plaza area near Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.

“I never said we sat together at the burial service; I said we sat together on the Knesset plaza awaiting the arrival of Rabin’s coffin for the lying in state period,” Indyk clarified over email, referring those questioning his remarks to review the transcript of his comments.

“I gather they’re now claiming I didn’t sit with Netanyahu in the Knesset,” Indyk said, referring to the photos showing that Netanyahu was not seated near the former U.S. ambassador. “But I never claimed it was in the Knesset.  It was on the Knesset plaza where Rabin’s coffin was officially received before it was taken inside.”

Indyk made similar comments on Twitter following criticism.

Indyk further stated in the interview that Netanyahu was upset that Rabin’s assassination would boost support for his political opponents.

“I think even at that moment of tremendous support, a tragic moment of support for Rabin, Netanyahu was thinking, well, politically he was on the ropes before he was assassinated,” Induk said. “He exploited that and ran against Oslo [peace accords] in the [1996] elections and beat [Shimon] Peres, but he only beat him by something like a half of one percent,” he added.

Amit Segal, a prominent Israeli journalist, claimed that after viewing footage from the Knesset, he could not determine that Indyk sat next to Netanyahu.

Only family members participated in the ceremony, he claimed.

(Washington Free Beacon)

Adam Kredo

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