Prime Minister Netanyahu Attends Shabbat Dinner After Strategic Israeli Airstrike

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife attended a Shabbat dinner hosted by philanthropist and loyal donor, billionaire Simon Falic, in New York City. This event took place hours after an Israeli military operation that successfully targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The event highlights Netanyahu’s strategic balancing of international diplomacy and interior defence operations. Despite a significant military success, Netanyahu continued his diplomatic engagements before promptly returning to Israel. This underscores Israel’s commitment to its international relationships while maintaining unwavering vigilance against terrorism.

Netanyahu’s office initially announced he would cut his trip to the UN General Assembly short, but he only departed after the dinner—around 10 hours post-operation—arriving in Israel roughly 24 hours following the airstrike. The social media posts from the dinner were later removed, pointing to a possible attempt to maintain focus on the operation’s significance.

Apart from the Netanyahus, attendees included Simon Falic and his family, known supporters of Netanyahu. America’s well-known Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who admired Netanyahu as “the greatest leader Israel has ever produced,” also attended the dinner.

Despite previous criticisms from internal watchdogs regarding Netanyahu’s stays at properties owned by benefactors, the prime minister remains steadfast in associating with loyal supporters like Falic. Notably, Falic is not involved in Netanyahu’s ongoing trial over alleged receipt of illicit gifts from other billionaire benefactors.

Special mention to Times of Israel contributors for supplemental information on this significant geopolitical update.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.