Benjamin Netanyahu is again under the microscope of heavy criticism and online discussion with two incidents on his leadership, relations with Arab states and the political tensions surrounding his government.
The first scene is a heated clash between an Israeli parliamentarian and a Jewish politician. Netanyahu is “heartless and faithless” and “damaged Israeli society from within,” according to the footage and claims that have been circulated.
Then the legislator goes further, warning that the political structures connected with Netanyahu could eventually be overthrown and that maybe his time in power will soon end.
🚨 BREAKING – An Israeli lawmaker, addressing Netanyahu: "Netanyahu! You are heartless and faithless. You have destroyed our society from within. We will tear down the walls you built – your reign is approaching its end..." 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/2huJlhzdYd
— GBX (@GBX_Global) August 8, 2026
The comments reveal the bitter political climate surrounding Netanyahu. He has been one of Israel’s most influential and controversial leaders since he was appointed in 2000 and his supporters have praised his leadership while his government has been attacked on the divisions in Israeli society.
The second scene is separate. It is an older video connecting Netanyahu to an Emirati official. Social media posts have depicted the footage as evidence that Netanyahu refused physical contact because he considered the Emirati person unclean.
🚨 BREAKING – Netanyahu refused to touch one of the Emiratis until he was sterilized and cleaned! A profound insult to the normalizers... 🇮🇱🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/5pzrf1slkV
— GBX (@GBX_Global) August 11, 2026
However, that interpretation is also in need of context.
Fact-checkers reviewed the video and found that it was shot on November 26, 2020, during a ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport as part of the first commercial Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel. Netanyahu initially refused to take a microphone and used hand sanitizer before beginning the ceremony. There was no evidence that he was motivated by hostility against an Emirati person or Arabs.
The difference between the two scenes is important. The first is political criticism directed at Netanyahu, and the second is an older video with a new interpretation which has been seen online.
The dispute is also occurring at a time of high sensitivities between Israel and UAE relations. In May 2026, the UAE claimed that Netanyahu had secretly visited the UAE throughout the Iran conflict and had met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, calling the talks a historic breakthrough.
Together, the two scenes have led to a much larger online debate about Netanyahu’s leadership, political opposition to his government and Israel's relations with Arab states.
But for publishers the footage should not be presented as proof that Netanyahu deliberately insulted an Emirati person by refusing to touch them. There is no evidence that supports that conclusion.
In fact, presenting the scenes as two separate events gives readers the context to understand why the videos attracted attention.
