Twitter lampoons Netanyahu's latest use of prop to blast Iran

Memes of the prime minister holding up part of downed Iranian drone gain traction on social media.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: FEBRUARY 18, 2018 15:45
An edited photograph of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Munich Security Conference (photo credit: SOCIAL MEDIA)
An edited photograph of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Munich Security Conference
(photo credit: SOCIAL MEDIA)
The prop master was at it again on Sunday, but this time his audience was a little less-than-receptive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu utilized his number one go to at the Munich Security Conference-a prop- this time a piece of a downed Iranian drone. In response, Twitter users seized the opportunity to rib the premier with visual gags on a wide range of criteria.
Addressing the conference on the dangers of the Iranian regime, Netanyahu held a part of a downed Iranian drone above his head and challenged Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, "You can take back a message to the tyrants of Tehran: do not test Israel's resolve."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds up part of Iranian drone that landed in Israel in February 2018 at the Munich Security Conference, February 18, 2018. (Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds up part of Iranian drone that landed in Israel in February 2018 at the Munich Security Conference, February 18, 2018. (Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
Twitter users, however, took it as an opportunity to harpoon Netanyahu from multiple angles, from cigars to chocolates.
In one picture, Netanyahu is photoshopped with a box of cigars, referencing last week's police recommendation he be charged with bribery by accepting cigars and champagne.

In one Netanyahu holds up a fake degree belonging to his wife, Sara, which claims she has a "B.A. M.A" degree, a reference to her leaked tirade against an aide during which she pointed out her status as a psychologist..

A third, captioned "an interesting take on the play, give or take," juxtaposed Netanyahu with a scene from Hamlet.

Another, featuring Netanyahu's "message to the tyrants" quote, substitutes the prop for an album of Israeli pop singer Rita, who was born in Tehran and platinum-label albums in Israel feature her singing in her native Persian langauge.

In one, Netanyahu holds an oversized bar of Tobleron chocolates (often given as gifts by those returning from abroad) under the caption, "he doesn't forget his community back home."

A sixth places an empty billboard in the prime minister's hand and tells interested parties the space is for sale.

One tweet compares Netanyahu to the beginning of the famous science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey, saying Stanley Kubrick, the film's director, did it better.

Netanyahu achieved a level of fame on the international stage for bringing theatrical speeches, most famously using a Loony Tunes-like bomb cartoon, on which he proceeded to draw a red line on to show what stage Iran was at in its pursuit of enriched uranium.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu points to a diagram of a bomb at the UN. (Credit: Reuters)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu points to a diagram of a bomb at the UN. (Credit: Reuters)
Holding a drawing of the bomb, with a lit fuse, Netanyahu told the UN: “At this late hour, there is only one way to peacefully prevent Iran from getting atomic bombs and that’s by placing a clear red line on Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Red lines don’t lead to war; red lines prevent war. Iran uses diplomatic negotiations to buy time to advance its program.”
Zarif referenced Netanyahu's use of props in his own address at the conference, calling it "a cartoonish circus."