DID Press: Ruth Bar, a former strategic adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has described him as having an “extreme” and deeply rooted sense of superiority, saying he viewed himself as above virtually everyone around him, including senior military commanders, political rivals, journalists, voters and even U.S. presidents.
Bar, who worked with Netanyahu for more than three years during the early stages of his political career, made the remarks in her first public interview in decades with The Jerusalem Post. She said her initial impression was that Netanyahu regarded other people with contempt and often dismissed them as insignificant or as “clerks.”
“He was certain he was above everyone,” Bar said, describing what she called a “deep, almost frightening superiority.” She added that Netanyahu viewed his political rivals as “small, pathetic and insignificant.”
Bar said she observed these traits more than 30 years ago, before Netanyahu became prime minister. She also described him as highly ambitious and determined to reach the highest level of political power.
According to Bar, her work with Netanyahu involved political research, opinion polling and analysis of his public appearances and political rivals. She said the experience also helped her develop theories about how political messaging and emotional responses influence voters.