Netanyahu's new poodle: Conan O'Brien rolls over for Israel

His trip to Israel was seen by many as a big Israeli PR stunt, and many took to Twitter to ask whether his trip was sponsored by Israel or Israeli-Americans.
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The New Arab Staff

The New Arab

07 Sep, 2017
Conan O'Brien fed the dog of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu [Twitter]
US TV host and comedian Conan O'Brien fed the dog of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during a visit to Israel last week, where he was filming for a TV special.

During his visit, the Late Night host praised Israel's military and hospital staff, and took to mocking Palestinians.

O'Brien met Netanyahu at his residence and took joy in feeding a cucumber to a canine while explaining that "no American dog is satisfied with a cucumber".

During his trip, 54-year-old visited a hospital in the northern city of Safed and said the doctors there "deserve a Nobel Peace Prize", for allegedly treating people from "a neighbouring and enemy country" like Syria.

O'Brien boasted about his encounters with Israeli military personnel, whom he described as "beautiful women" and "buff men".

He caused a stir after tweeting a picture of himself with two plates of hummus, implying the Palestinian dish is Israeli.

O'Brien caused further controversy in another tweet that implied Palestinian market dealers were cheaters.

Overall, his trip to Israel was seen by many as a big Israeli PR stunt, and many took to Twitter to ask whether his trip was sponsored by Israel or Israeli-Americans.

"Can someone tell me why Conan O'Brian is now a propagandist for Israel?," one twitter user said.

"Conan O'Brien's trip to Israel has all the markings of an Israeli government-sponsored hasbara tour," another said.

In 2013, the American comedian garnered angry comments over a racist joke he made on twitter, which belittled Muslim women.

The TV host mocked Marvel's latest Muslim female superhero - Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old American girl who transforms into Ms Marvel after she is bestowed with special powers.

"Marvel Comics is introducing a new Muslim Female superhero. She has so many more special powers than her husband’s other wives," he tweeted, causing a major backlash that led him to delete the post.

 
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