Sparta Speech
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.jpg) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 2025 | |
| Native name | נאום ספרטה |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 September 2025 |
| Time | 3 PM (UTC+02:00) |
| Location | International Convention Center Jerusalem, Israel |
On 15 September 2025, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a conference of the Accountant General in Jerusalem.[1] His speech at the conference, referred to in Israeli media as the Sparta Speech (Hebrew: נאום ספרטה, romanized: Ne'um Sparta), described what he deemed Israel's growing diplomatic and economic isolation during the Gaza war, and called for the country to adopt a "Super-Sparta" approach to confront the resulting security and economic challenges. The speech sparked widespread debate and controversy in Israel.[2][3]
Netanyahu outlined several factors which he claimed were contributing to Israel's escalating diplomatic isolation. Among his claims are the alleged political influence of Muslim immigrant communities in Europe, which he said pressured their governments to adopt critical stances toward Israel related to the Gaza war. Netanyahu also emphasized the role of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, being exploited by states such as Qatar and China to conduct influence operations on social media, which he described as creating a "media siege" on Israel.[2] He warned of potential trade restrictions as a consequence of diplomatic pressures, which could limit Israel's access to weapon components. He stressed the importance of expanding domestic arms production to maintain national security.[4] Concluding his address, Netanyahu urged the development of a "Super-Sparta economy", which he defined as an economic model characterized by increased autarky.[2][4][5] Although he identified himself as a supporter of free market principles, Netanyahu argued that the current geopolitical circumstances necessitated greater economic independence.[4][5][6]