AS THE West Asia conflict entered its 17th day, Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday said “we are ready to stop hostilities if Iran changes course”. Interacting with reporters here, Azar also said that in the last few days, Israel consulted “diplomatic channels”, including its partners the US and countries in the region. “We are always for diplomacy. Unfortunately, we exhausted diplomacy to the extent that we had to take military action. We hope that diplomacy will be relevant again as a result of our military action,” he said. The Israeli envoy said that in the past few days, Israel consulted “diplomatic channels”, including its partners the US as well as the countries in the region, and a few other nations with which it doesn’t have a diplomatic relationship. Azar also said that through military action, “we’ve managed to degrade Iran’s launching capabilities” to a large extent. “Right now, we are controlling the skies of Iran,” Azar told reporters, adding, “They are in dire straits.” The future will be “brighter” if Iran decides to “change course” and recognises Israel, he added. ‘Don’t worry, he’s okay’: Israeli Envoy Reuven Azar scotches rumours of Netanyahu’s death: Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday scotched rumours about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s death amid the raging West Asia conflict, saying “PM Netanyahu is alive”.

 

Interacting with reporters in Delhi, he also said a video of Netanyahu’s visit to a cafe in Israel was not “AI-fabricated”, dismissing the claim as spreading of “disinformation”. The rebuttal from Israel’s top diplomat in India comes in the backdrop of several social media posts claiming that Netanyahu received fatal injuries amid the conflict in West Asia, which entered its 17th day on Monday. During the media briefing on Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, Azar was asked if Netanyahu was harmed in the conflict. “PM Netanyahu is alive. I saw him when I was in Israel more than once. The video at the cafe is not AI-fabricated. A lot of disinformation is being spread,” Azar said. He also accused Iran and its “accomplices” of spreading disinformation. Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of the briefing, Azar said, “Look, this is a classical disinformation projection that the Iranians and their accomplices are trying to do. Our prime minister is feeling very well. I met him personally following Prime Minister 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.”