The Ben Shapiro Show: Ben Shapiro Interviews Benjamin Netanyahu

Date: October 6, 2025
Guest: Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
Host: Ben Shapiro, The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

In this "exclusive" episode, Ben Shapiro sits down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of the second anniversary of the October 7th attacks. The conversation spans the current state and near-term prognosis of the Israel-Gaza War, U.S.-Israel relations, anti-Semitism in the West, Israel's regional power status, internal political cohesion, and the path forward for both regional peace and Israeli self-sufficiency. The discussion retains Shapiro’s characteristically direct tone and Netanyahu’s assertive, pragmatic style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the War and Israel’s Objectives

[00:00–02:21]

• Netanyahu expresses cautious optimism that Israel is close to ending the war but stresses it is not over:

  • “We were attacked on October 7, exactly two years ago, less one day… everybody thought Israel was doomed. Two years later, we’ve smashed the Iran axis, smashed most of its proxies. Hamas not finished yet, but we’ll get there.” (Netanyahu, [00:13])
  • Asserts that Israel has emerged the “strongest power in the Middle East,” but insists unfinished business remains, especially the "release of 46 hostages (20 alive)" and "the end of Hamas rule and its terror tyranny in Gaza".

• Praises U.S. support, particularly from President Trump, and credits it with altering the global diplomatic stance against Hamas.

2. U.S.-Israel Alliance: Strategic and Technological Ties

[02:21–09:11]

• Discussion references Vice President JD Vance’s “America First” doctrine and the rationale for U.S.-Israel partnership.

  • Netanyahu: "America First doesn’t mean America alone... all countries need allies, superpowers need allies. China has allies, Russia has allies." ([03:24])
  • Emphasizes Israel as a self-sufficient, capable, and mutually beneficial ally: “We’ve also defeated enemies or your enemies... We just knocked out Iran also with, as I said, with President Trump’s… assistance.” ([03:50])
  • Stresses Israeli technological contributions to the U.S., including Iron Dome, Arrow Missiles, and Trophy Systems, highlighting co-development and sharing of defense tech.

• Intelligence Sharing:

  • Quotes General Keegan (former U.S. Air Force intelligence): "I need five CIAs to give us what Israel gave us." ([06:47])
  • Netanyahu: “It’s true, we share everything we know and we’ve saved a lot of lives.” ([06:48])

• Israeli self-sufficiency:

  • Netanyahu reiterates the ambition for military independence, paralleling Israel’s economic self-sufficiency:
  • “I’m telling you that we can achieve military self sufficiency. And that’s a goal that we’re doing really, to transform the Israeli defense industry. Just a quantum level jump to be able to be self sufficient, to share with America the extraordinary developments that we have.” ([07:53])

3. Personal Relationship with President Trump

[09:11–10:16]

• Shapiro calls Trump "the most pro-Israel president in the history of the United States."
• Netanyahu describes his relationship with Trump as "in private quite warm" but stresses realism:
  • “We’re the junior partner... right now the liberty of the world, the security of the world is dependent on the strength of the United States.” ([09:40])
  • “President Trump has done in a very short time is bring America back to the front seat, to the driver’s seat in world affairs.” ([09:52])

4. Rising Anti-Semitism in the West

[10:16–13:37]

• Shapiro prompts Netanyahu regarding the surge of anti-Semitism, especially post-October 7th attacks.

• Netanyahu frames anti-Semitism as a cyclical, historical phenomenon:

  • “My father... a great historian, actually told me that this is something that’s going to come because he studied it for... a few thousand years… it keeps coming and going.” ([10:47])
  • Describes anti-Israel demonstrations as preceding Israeli action, highlighting misattribution by media.
  • Emphasizes resilience and pride:
    • “To the Jews in America, to the Jews around the world, I say, and I say this forcefully, stand up. Be proud of the fact that you belong to this incredible people who’ve resisted all the horrors... People respect those who respect themselves... Stand up and be proud. Don’t bend.” ([12:49])

5. Israel’s Changing Role in the Region & Prospects for Peace

[13:37–15:31]

• After two years of war, Israel is depicted as the "predominant military power in the region" (Shapiro).
• Netanyahu remains optimistic about expanding peace:
  • “I think we can expand the Abrahamic course. I think we can have more peace agreements... not only in the Middle east, but with the Islamic world beyond the Middle East.” ([14:31])
  • Insists on the necessity of both Hamas’s defeat and the safe return of hostages as prerequisites to progress.

6. Internal Divisions in Israel: Realities and Perceptions

[15:31–19:38]

• Shapiro inquires about worries over domestic divides following protests around judicial reform before October 7th.
• Netanyahu contends that perceptions of division are amplified by “organized minorities... mobilized with money, organization, NGOs… and foreign governments.”
  • “It creates an aura of total division... But it’s happening in every [country]... usually... against non-leftist governments.” ([16:03])
  • Claims the majority of Israelis remain united in key goals: return hostages, finish Hamas, strengthen Israel.
• Suggests that, just as Israel achieved economic autonomy, it will become "militarily self-sufficient," enhancing both its own and American security.

7. Closing Reflections

[19:38–20:44]

• Netanyahu extends greetings for the Jewish holiday, but underscores the somber anniversary of October 7th.
  • “We rose from the ashes again and again, became... from the pit of despair. We become again the dominant power in the Middle east, perhaps stronger, much stronger than we were before. That’s something I think that we can give thanks for.” ([19:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hamas not finished yet, but we’ll get there… What started in Gaza will end in Gaza.” – Netanyahu ([00:13])
• “America First doesn’t mean America alone. Because all countries need allies, superpowers need allies.” – Netanyahu ([03:24])
• “If you’re without allies, who may develop the technologies that are needed for your defense... Why forfeit yourself of these allies?” – Netanyahu ([03:36])
• “Peace through strength. You got to be strong in order to get the peace.” – Netanyahu ([06:32])
• “We share everything we know and we’ve saved a lot of lives.” – Netanyahu ([06:48])
• “You don’t want to be under the nuclear gun of these people who are not necessarily rational and who chant death to America.” – Netanyahu ([05:09])
• “It’s a cyclical phenomena of historical waves that come and go.” – Netanyahu ([10:47])
• “Stand up and be proud. Don’t bend.” – Netanyahu ([13:05])
• “I think we can expand the Abrahamic course. I think we can have more peace agreements... not only in the Middle east, but with the Islamic world beyond the Middle East.” – Netanyahu ([14:31])
• “We rose from the ashes again and again... We become again the dominant power in the Middle east, perhaps stronger, much stronger than we were before.” – Netanyahu ([19:53])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• State of War & Hostages: 00:00–02:21
• US-Israel Relationship & Technology: 02:21–09:11
• Trump & US Leadership: 09:11–10:16
• Anti-Semitism in the West: 10:16–13:37
• Regional Status & Abraham Accords: 13:37–15:31
• Domestic Divisions: 15:31–19:38
• Final Thoughts & Anniversary Reflections: 19:38–20:44

This episode offers a robust, candid discussion of Israel’s current military and diplomatic standing, underlining the enduring importance of the US-Israel alliance, the challenges of anti-Semitism, the responsibilities of leadership in time of crisis, and hopes for both internal unity and regional peace.