By: Emmi Kivi
February 7 2024
No, Putin did not snub Netanyahu at an international meeting
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Source: X/Instagram
Fact-Check
The Verdict Misleading
The video dates back to 2020 and does not show the Russian President snubbing the Israeli Prime Minister.
Claim ID a5b78d56
What is the claim?
A video purportedly showing Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberately ignoring Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an international event recently circulated on social media. One post described the scene with the message, “Putin refuses to acknowledge Satanyahu! Sat right next to him and didn’t even notice him. Awkward (sic).” Another variant of the story claimed, “#BREAKING Putin’s bold move stuns the world: Ignores handshake with Netanyahu, raising eyebrows everywhere!”
The video captures Putin walking past Netanyahu, who extends his hand for a handshake, before sitting next to the Israeli Prime Minister. In the same footage, Putin is seen greeting French President Emmanuel Macron and King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Logically Facts found that the video originated from the 2020 Holocaust Forum and shows Putin being escorted to his seat, not ignoring Netanyahu.
What did we find?
In the viral video, the screen in the background reads, “Remembering the Holocaust Fighting Antisemitism.” By searching this phrase online, we found a video on YouTube posted by AFP News Agency with footage matching the viral claim. The video was headlined “World leaders attend Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem” and was published on January 23, 2020.
The video description reveals that it features Putin's arrival at the 5th World Holocaust Forum, seated among other dignitaries to commemorate 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp.
Reports from the Times of Israel indicate that Putin was escorted to his seat by then-Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The forum took place in Jerusalem, Israel, on January 23, 2020, predating the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
Further investigation uncovered multiple photos and videos of Putin and Netanyahu interacting amicably at the forum. Additional footage from the event, titled “World Holocaust Forum: President Putin Inaugurates Leningrad Memorial in Jerusalem” and posted by i24News English on YouTube, features a moment at the 7:49 timestamp where Putin and Netanyahu are seen shaking hands and embracing following Putin’s speech.
between Putin and Netanyahu at 2020 Holocaust Forum. (Source: YouTube/TASS)
The Russian News Agency TASS article also depicted both leaders unveiling the Memorial Candle monument in Jerusalem, honoring the residents of besieged Leningrad during the Second World War, at the forum.
The verdict
The footage in question dates back to January 2020 and was shot during the 5th Holocaust Forum, well before the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. It does not depict President Putin ignoring Prime Minister Netanyahu but instead shows Putin being directed to his seat by the Israeli President. Multiple images and videos of positive interactions between Putin and Netanyahu at the event have been found, debunking the claim of an intentional snub. Therefore, we marked the claim as misleading.