Netanyahu: 'They Used Spyware and Still Couldn't Take Me Down'
Benjamin Netanyahu just dropped the gloves. In a rare unfiltered interview with Lex Fridman, Israel's longest-serving PM hit back hard against years of corruption allegations — painting himself as a political survivor who's been relentlessly targeted, yet undefeated.
"They Used Spyware and Still Couldn't Take Me Down"
When asked about micro targeting and its role in the corrupting nature of modern leadership, Bibi didn’t flinch.
"Do I worry about power corrupting me? Not at all."
Instead, he said his drive comes from a mission: protecting Israel's prosperity, peace, and survival. Despite dominating Israeli politics for 15+ years, Netanyahu insists he's done it the hard way — with zero media allies, constant election battles, and what he calls a system stacked against him.
He even recalled a jaw-dropping convo with Berlusconi:
"How many of Israel's TV stations do you control? None. NONE? I have two! They're all against me."
Lex Goes There: "What About the Corruption Cases?"
Lex didn't shy away — he asked point-blank about Netanyahu's infamous legal troubles.
Netanyahu’s response? Brutal.
"These cases are collapsing before our eyes… The flagship bribery charge? Gone before a single defense witness was called."
He claims a quarter-billion shekels were spent digging into his life — tracking bank accounts globally, deploying spyware, and allegedly threatening witnesses. And yet?
"The corruption? It wasn't me. It's what was done to me. That's what people are starting to ask."
New Politics, Micro Targeting, and the Fight to Stay in the Game
Netanyahu's biggest argument isn't just "I'm innocent" — it's "I'm the underdog."
Despite his longevity in power, he paints himself as someone attacked by institutions, vilified by media, and targeted by the legal system — all because he keeps winning elections.
In this era of new politics, where micro targeting can sway millions and media narratives drive public trust, Netanyahu says his repeated victories are proof that message still beats manipulation.
The bigger story? According to him, it's not just about one man. It's about what happens when democracy gets hijacked by power players who can't beat you at the ballot box.
"They couldn't take me down — even with spyware."