The Holocaust has become a central theme of Benjamin Netanyahu’s rhetoric and his diplomatic struggle to block Iran’s nuclear program ever since he returned to power in 2009. As part of an effort “to prevent a second Holocaust,” the Israeli prime minister has been active in the diplomatic arena, while at the same time making military preparations to contend with the Iranian nuclear threat. One step he took, as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed, was to invest 11 billion shekels (just over $3 billion) in a plan that was ultimately shelved.
There was hardly a speech delivered by Netanyahu during these years — whether in Israel or the most prestigious forums in the world — in which he did not exploit for propaganda purposes the silence of the world powers during World War II, while the Jewish people were being annihilated, to make Israel’s case. The comparison is clear: Given the indulgent attitude of the world powers toward Iran today and the clear preference of the West to find a diplomatic solution, Israel must adopt a proactive approach to defend itself against Iran.