| Summary: | This article analyzes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first speeches dealing with COVID-19, in the context of the unique political crisis in which Israel was plunged when the pandemic broke out. It suggests that Netanyahu’s rhetoric was not aimed, similarly to that of other Western leaders, uniquely at persuading his audience to obey to restrictive regulations, and in that view at building his authority and legitimacy, as well as the legitimacy of the measures taken against the pandemic; but that his rhetoric was also aimed at rehabilitating his ethos impaired by his inculpation, repositioning him as head of State, as the only leader capable of managing a crisis of such magnitude, therefore of leading the country; as well as at convincing his political rival to join a so-called « emergency national unity » government.
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