Netanyahu Posts Casual Video to Dispel Iranian Rumors of His Death
JERUSALEM, March 15 (Reuters) — In a pointed rebuttal to rumors circulating on Iranian state media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday posted a video showing him casually fetching a coffee and conversing with an aide at a cafe on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
The 30-second clip, shared on the Prime Minister's official Telegram channel, features his aide referencing the baseless claims. "Have you heard the rumors from Iran?" the aide asks. Netanyahu, reaching for his cup, responds with a wordplay on the Hebrew slang term for "dead" ("met"), which can also mean "crazy about."
"I'm 'met' for coffee," Netanyahu says with a slight smile. "Actually, you know what? I'm 'met' for my people."
Reuters verified the video's location by matching the cafe's interior with file imagery. The date was confirmed through multiple photos and videos of the Prime Minister's visit posted by the cafe's social media accounts on Sunday.
Background & Analysis: The video emerges amid heightened regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in late February. Netanyahu's public appearances have been tightly controlled since the conflict escalated, with most footage distributed directly by his office. His rare press engagement last Thursday was conducted via video link, a format last used during the brief war with Iran in June. The rumor mill, often a tool in information warfare, highlights the intense psychological battlefield that parallels the military one.
Israel remains under emergency safety restrictions, with public gatherings banned and schools closed nationwide, keeping most citizens near shelters.
Reactions & Commentary:
"It's a clever, low-effort way to project normalcy and control the narrative," said David Cohen, a political risk analyst based in Tel Aviv. "The subtext is clear: not only is he alive, but he's unfazed."
"This theatrical stunt doesn't address the real concerns of Israelis living under rocket fire," remarked Leah Rosenberg, a columnist for a left-leaning newspaper, her tone sharp. "A coffee clip is no substitute for transparent leadership and press access. It feels more like a campaign ad than wartime communication."
"From a strategic communications perspective, it was effective," noted Amir Hassan, a former diplomatic correspondent. "It used humor to disarm a malicious rumor, reaching the domestic audience and sending a message of resilience internationally."
(Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Elwely Elwelly in Dubai; Editing by Aidan Lewis)