Which Benjamin Netanyahu should you believe? The one who spoke in English to US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, September 29, thanking him for his ambitious peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? The one who addressed his electoral base in Hebrew a few hours later, downplaying his commitments? The one who recorded a video in his office on Saturday expressing optimism about the swift release of the 48 hostages held by Hamas? The one who, on the same day, discreetly met his far-right ministers to try to prevent their resignation in the event the war ended? Or the one who spoke before families of hostages on Sunday, insisting – despite all evidence – that their survival had been his top priority since October 7, 2023?

The Israeli prime minister, who has served a total of 18 years as head of government since 1996, has been navigating blindly through the current crisis. "I don't know why you're always so fucking negative. This is a win. Take it," Trump reportedly told him on Friday, clearly annoyed at Netanyahu's evasiveness after Hamas gave a "yes, but" to the peace plan, according to Barak Ravid, one of the best-informed journalists in Washington and Jerusalem.

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