Social media accounts posted a photo of the Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, at an airport, claiming that he was fleeing after targeting the home of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu,“Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid flees the country after an assassination attempt of Prime Minister Netanyahu.”
Kashif verified the photo via “Google Images” and found that it is old and the claim is misleading. The photo was circulated in April 2019 as being of Yair Lapid at the airport without mentioning details, its old publication confirms that it was taken before the targeting Netanyahu’s home, on 19/10/2024.
“X” account “ Ariel Schnabel אריאל שנבל” published the photo on 11/4/2019, and accompanied the photo with the following text: “We will make life bitter for the coalition (but a moment ago we will fly somewhere). Yair Lapid this morning at the airport.”
Akiva Novick’s account on “X” also posted the photo on 11/4/2019, with the following caption: “Are you on your way to meet Avigdor Lieberman in Vienna?”
Several Israeli accounts on Facebook also posted the photo on 11/4/2019, with the following text: “Coalition life is bitter (but first we’re flying somewhere). Yair Lapid this morning at Ben Gurion Airport.”
Kashif was unable to verify the origin of the circulated photo, but its old publication in 2019, i.e. before the targeting of Netanyahu’s home on 19/10/2024, debunks the claim.
The Israeli Prime Ministers office reported on Saturday, 19/10/2024, that a drone launched from Lebanon targeted Netanyahu’s private home in Caesarea, north of Israel, and stated that he and his family were not present in the house.
