The most recent chapter in a series of meetings that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been holding with journalists and other media representatives in Israel took place Aug. 23. His audience consisted of ultra-Orthodox journalists, representatives of a vibrant press that serves more than a million people. The briefing lasted 5½ hours, with a “cigar break” in the middle. Netanyahu may have the most challenging job in the world, but he acted as if he had all the time in the world.

The prime minister has held a number of meetings like this one over the past few weeks, with journalists from Israeli public radio, Army Radio, the editorial boards of Haaretz and Channel 2 and right-wing and independent-leaning journalists. There may be more to come. He has held dozens of hours of these “briefings,” in which he delivers a spiel to his audience, and it has been more amazing than ever.

Netanyahu has served as prime minister for more than 11 years, including seven consecutive years (2009-2016). At the small press gatherings, he has exhibited self-assurance, arrogance, joie de vivre, fluency on the issues and a fighting spirit. He is full of himself. He rants, he raves. He displays faint glimmers of a sense of humor, including of the self-deprecating kind, and a considerable talent for mimicking others.

There is no obvious answer as to why Netanyahu is investing so much time and energy in these background briefings instead of just giving an occasional interview to the Israeli media, which would itself be an unusual occurrence. Perhaps there are two reasons: The first is simply that he enjoys it. The second is that he is laying the foundation for his legacy and his own narrative on his time in office. He is already convinced of how great he is. Now he is trying to convince everyone else.