In video, Israel's Netanyahu congratulates Iran football team, encourages protests against govt

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video Wednesday on Twitter called "Could you stop Ronaldo from scoring a goal?!" 

In it, Netanyahu showed off his (surprisingly good) football skills, congratulated the Iranian football team's heroic efforts at the World Cup against Ronaldo and Portugal — the Iranians drew 1-1 against Portugal, and their keeper stopped a Ronald penalty — and encouraged the Iranian people's recent protests against their government. 

“To the Iranian people I say: You showed courage on the playing field, and today you showed the same courage in the streets of Iran,” Netanyahu said in his video. 

Add WION as a Preferred Source

“Iran has many problems — air pollution, water scarcity, billions wasted on terror,” he added. “Can you imagine what would happen if the Iranian government, instead of wasting your money in Syria, in Yemen, and in unnecessary wars in the Middle East, would start investing it in solving these problems in Iran?"

The point of the video was not so much the football, but the protests. Netanyahu's Israel thinks of Iran as a sworn enemy and Netanyahu, with his video, was doing what he could to encourage the protests against the Iranian regime. 

Tehran has seen massive protests in recent days over the state of the economy, a collapse of the Iranian currency, and unemployment. 

The Iranian government blames the US and the sanctions it has reimposed on Iran (after the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal) for the problems mentioned above. 

Netanyahu's video was soon followed by a tweet from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: 

#Iran’s corrupt regime is wasting the country’s resources on Assad, Hizbollah, Hamas & Houthis, while Iranians struggle. It should surprise no one #IranProtests continue. People are tired of the corruption, injustice & incompetence of their leaders. The world hears their voice. pic.twitter.com/1iw9JAXKC0 — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) June 27, 2018

“One day, I hope to watch Iran’s soccer team go head to head against Israel in a free Tehran. On that day, we’ll all be winners,” said Netanyahu in his video. 

“That’s why I’ll never stop advocating for peace with the Iranian people”