On the eve of Israel's election, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has shocked everyone by scoring the most coveted American endorsement. Yes, I'm talking about Hollywood's faded action star, Chuck Norris, who has finally revealed that he is backing Netanyahu.
Upon garnering this endorsement, Netanyahu immediately Tweeted out the news, along with an impassioned video message from Norris himself. Below, you can see the video along with my transcription:
I'm Chuck Norris, and I would like to say hello to all my friends in Israel. I watched Prime Mininster Netan-yahoo's speech before Congress, and saw a man who loves his country with all his heart and soul. I also saw a strong leader, which is absolutely crucial for the safety of the Israeli people.
I have done three movies in Israel, Delta Force being my favorite, and I formed many friendships while there. You have an incredible country, and we want to keep it that way. That's why it's so important to keep a leader who has the courage and vision to stand up against the evil forces that are threatening not only Israel, but the United States. So I ask you to vote for Prime Minister Netan-yahoo on election day.
Thank you for listening to me.
This passionate endorsement, with Norris carefully making sure Israel's electorate knows he's reading a script written by a Likud intern, could end up being the game-changer Netanyahu has been so desperately seeking with his party increasingly
trailing every election poll.
All of Netanyahu's past stunts, from his speech before Congress to his declaration that he will never allow a Palestinian state, have failed to garner him the support he needs. Indeed, they have done the opposite, inspiring 50,000 into the streets to call for his ouster and prompting Israel's security establishment to label him as dangerous.
Yes, past efforts to sway voters have failed. But this is Chuck Norris. He of Delta Force. An American actor who, for some reason, has endorsed a foreign leader.
Strange? Not at all. It's the game-changer Netanyahu has been seeking, and one that may deliver him a victory in tomorrow's elections.
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David Harris-Gershon is author of the memoir What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, recently published by Oneworld Publications.