, Columnist
Netanyahu’s Iran Performance Wasn’t Just for Trump
The Israeli prime minister had at least five audiences in mind for his dramatic presentation about Tehran's nuclear-weapons intentions.
The medium was the message.
Photographer: AFP Contributor/AFPThis article is for subscribers only.
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on national television to present what his office touted as a dramatic announcement about Iranian nuclear documents now in Israeli hands, the entire country tuned in. So did much of the world.
Early reviews were dismissive. Sure, it was impressive that Israeli agents heisted half a ton of nuclear documents from Iran. The movie version would be a must-see. But critics harrumphed that the revelations lacked substance: What Netanyahu presented were merely files of a long-defunct Iranian bomb and delivery program.