In contemporary global discourse, the age-old dichotomy of the "civilized" West versus the "barbaric" East continues to resurface, reflecting enduring stereotypes that have shaped perceptions and policies for centuries. 

This narrative, deeply rooted in historical colonialism and Orientalism, remains a powerful force in how Western societies view and engage with Eastern cultures and nations.

“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech reflects the Western perspective that views the East through an orientalist lens. 

In his speech, Netanyahu framed “Israel’s” tensions in the Middle East as "a clash between barbarism and civilization," arguing that "America and Israel must stand together" to ensure victory over what he described as a force that "glorifies death."

His language starkly divides the world into binaries of "civilization" versus "barbarism," portraying frictions in the Middle East as not just political but as fundamental clashes between different value systems.

- Background into orientalism -

Edward Said's seminal work, Orientalism, published in 1978, has been instrumental in deconstructing the Western view of the East. 

Said's analysis reveals how Western scholars, artists, and policymakers have historically portrayed Eastern societies through a lens of exoticism and inferiority. 

This portrayal, as Said argued, was not merely an academic exercise but a means of justifying colonial domination and reinforcing cultural hierarchies.

Said’s Orientalism challenged the binary narrative of the "civilized" West versus the "barbaric" East, showing how Western representations of the East were constructed to reinforce Western superiority and control. 

- Dissecting Netanyahu’s speech -

By framing “Israel’s” aggression on Gaza and its tensions with Iran, Houthis, and Hezbollah as one between "those who glorify death" and "those who sanctify life," Netanyahu reinforces a dichotomy that implicitly supports the view that Western societies embody civilization and rationality, while Middle Eastern actors as irrational and barbaric.

Furthermore, the speech positions the US and “Israel” as defenders of Western civilization against the supposed barbarism of Iran and its proxies. 

This narrative not only simplifies complex geopolitical dynamics but also perpetuates a view of the East as a realm of chaos and extremism that needs to be controlled by the West.

Moreover, Netanyahu's supremacist rhetoric reveals a deep-seated Islamophobia that underscores his reductionist view of the Middle Eastern struggle. 

His depiction of Palestinian groups and their supporters as fundamentally opposed to Western values and civilization reflects an orientalist perspective that sees Islamic and Middle Eastern identities as synonymous with extremism and barbarism.

This reductionist narrative also serves to obscure the ongoing “Israeli” genocide and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. 

By focusing on the perceived barbarism of the adversary, Netanyahu’s speech simplifies a deeply complex situation and diminishes the reality of Palestinian suffering.

Additionally, Netanyahu stated, “Today, as Israel fights on the frontline of civilization, I too appeal to America: ‘Give us the tools faster, and we’ll finish the job faster.’”

He argued that “Israel's” role is crucial for the safety of the West, particularly the US, using this tactic to garner American financial and military support for “Israel”. Which in turn goes back to the Orientalist scheme to colonize and uphold apartheid

Just as European colonizers portrayed Indigenous peoples as "savage" to legitimize their violence and land theft, Netanyahu’s rhetoric often frames Palestinians in Gaza as a security threat to justify ongoing military actions.

 - Fearmongering -

Netanyahu strategically used inflammatory rhetoric by drawing on past American tragedies and framing current events in the Middle East in a way that perpetuates existing prejudices, exacerbating Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment in the US.

Netanyahu's speech included alarming statements such as, “When Israel fights Hamas, we’re fighting Iran. When we fight Hezbollah, we’re fighting Iran. When we fight the Houthis, we’re fighting Iran. And when we fight Iran, we’re fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States of America.” 

Netanyahu draws parallels between these events and historic American tragedies by mentioning September 11th, 2001. 

By invoking September 11, 2001—an event that significantly heightened Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment—Netanyahu aims to evoke fear that such events could resurface if “Israel” did not interfere in Middle Eastern affairs.

“We’re not only protecting ourselves. We’re protecting you,” he argues.