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Quotable: Netanyahu says Israel benefitted from 9/11

This is sure to provide fodder for conspiracy theorists in the Middle East: The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv on Wednesday reported that Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu told an audience at Bar Ilan university that the September 11, 2001 terror attacks had been beneficial for Israel. "We are benefiting from one thing, and that is the attack ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

This is sure to provide fodder for conspiracy theorists in the Middle East:

This is sure to provide fodder for conspiracy theorists in the Middle East:

The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv on Wednesday reported that Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu told an audience at Bar Ilan university that the September 11, 2001 terror attacks had been beneficial for Israel.

"We are benefiting from one thing, and that is the attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and the American struggle in Iraq," Ma’ariv quoted the former prime minister as saying. He reportedly added that these events "swung American public opinion in our favor."

It amazes me that despite the fact that Osama bin Laden has admitted multiple times that he ordered the September 11th attacks, there are still plenty of people — especially in Arab countries — who believe otherwise. Netanyahu just gave those folks a huge gift.

Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

Read More On Israel | Middle East and North Africa | Palestine | Terrorism

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