Netanyahu alive, video at cafe is not AI-fabricated: Israel’s envoy to India

Israeli ambassador to India Reuven Azar on Monday rebutted claims that PM Benjamin Netanyahu was dead, while reiterating that the “operational opportunity” for the Israel-US joint strikes on Iran arose only after PM Narendra Modi left Israel on Feb 26. PM Modi had visited Israel days before the attacks and his bilateral meeting with Netanyahu took place 48 hours before the Feb 28 strikes that were quickly followed by Iranian reprisals.

“PM Netanyahu is alive. I saw him when I was in Israel more than once. The video at the cafe (showing Netanyahu) is not AI-fabricated. A lot of disinformation is being spread,” Azar said, accusing Iran of spreading false information.




“Look, this is a classical disinformation projection that the Iranians and their accomplices are trying to do. Our PM is feeling very well. I met him personally following PM Narendra Modi’s visit (to Israel). He’s completely intact. He also showed that yesterday in a video when he visited a cafe in Israel. So don’t worry, he’s okay,” he said addressing reporters.

Not for the first time, the ambassador denied that PM Modi may have been aware of the attack on Iran as he had visited Israel just before it took place. “It was evident that the situation is very volatile in our region even before PM Narendra Modi came. When it comes to the decision to strike, the operational opportunity came only after PM Modi left. The cabinet decision to approve the operation happened only two days after,” Azar said.

Bibi posts another video

A day after releasing a video debunking conspiracy theories of his death, Netanyahu on Monday came up with yet another video ‘showing he is alive’. In the video shared on his personal X account, Netanyahu is seen interacting with people in the Jerusalem Hills. In Monday’s video, Netanyahu is seen near the same coffee shop featured in the earlier clip and is wearing the same outfit.

(With PTI inputs)