Netanyahu Roasts ‘Fake News’ CNN, New York Times

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric employed against dishonest media outlets Sunday, blasting “fake news” reports on the moderation of the Palestinian group Hamas.

Netanyahu took particular offense with CNN, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian for how the outlets covered a political document released last week from Hamas, still designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.

“It’s bad enough Hamas lies to the world. We don’t also have to lie to ourselves.”

In the document, Hamas claimed it was rescinding its oft-repeated calls for Israel’s annihilation, a move seen by most observers as an attempt to shake the terrorist designation. The document noted Hamas still rejects Israel’s right to exist and reaffirms a promise to support military action against Israel.

“The new Hamas document says that Israel has no right to exist, it says every inch of our land belongs to the Palestinians, it says there is no acceptable solution other than to remove Israel … they want to use their state to destroy our state,” Netanyahu said in a 97-second-long video clip posted Sunday.

Netanyahu expressed his astonishment that several media outlets glossed over these threats while focusing on Hamas’ attempt at “moderation.”

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“Ever wonder what fake news is?” Netanyahu asked. “Last week, headlines in CNN, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian said Hamas now accepts a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines. The New York Times headline called this ‘moderation’ … Is moving from calling for genocide of all Jews to calling just for the annihilation of Israel – is that progress, or ‘moderation?'”

“The intimation is that Hamas now accepts the state of Israel,” Netanyahu added. “Great news, right? Well, except for one small detail: This is a complete distortion of the truth.”

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The offending headlines included CNN’s “Hamas says it accepts ’67 borders, but doesn’t recognize Israel,” The Times’ “Hamas Tempers Extreme Stances in Bid for Power,” The Guardian’s “Hamas presents new charter accepting a Palestine based on 1967 borders” and Al Jazeera’s “Hamas accepts Palestinian state with 1967 borders,” RealClearPolitics noted.

Netanyahu warned Hamas still supports violent anti-Israel terrorism and will never willingly seek peace with Israel.

“It’s bad enough Hamas lies to the world. We don’t also have to lie to ourselves,” Netanyahu argued in the video. “Hamas murders women and children. It [has] launched thousands of missile attacks at our homes. It brainwashes Palestinian kids in suicide kindergarten camps.”

“So, where does this hate-filled document belong?” Netanyahu asked before crumpling up the Hamas document and tossing it into a garbage can.