It's time to write a little note to Prime Minister Netanyahu's attention: Axiose May English, but Inaf iz Inaf. In other words, enough is enough. The flood of interviews with foreign broadcasters, mainly in English, and especially in America, ultimately conveys a message internally as well.
Excerpt from Prime Minister Netanyahu's interview with NBC, August 2023 // Photo: From NBC Twitter
And that message starts to frustrate. What does the willingness to enter the framework of a journalistic interview, sometimes critical, convey in foreign media outlets while the Israeli public reads sterile statements from the podium? How is it that Jennifer and Jimmy Markansas have the privilege of watching Israel's prime minister deal with tough questions – while Yael and Amir of her gender have to make do with a 40-second video from the hospital?
It is not the series of appearances in the foreign media that is problematic here, but the conspicuous, and defiant, absence of significant interviews here, in Israel, in Hebrew. The message conveyed is that local public opinion is not counted.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu updates on his health, archive // Photo: Likud Spokesperson's Office
Israelis, including voters for the national camp, deserve no accountability, let alone answers to questions that in recent months have become acute and have reached the level of existential dilemmas.
And this criticism is also relevant to Justice Minister Yariv Levin: It is impossible to lead a radical move, let alone regime reform, let alone one that provokes intense protest – without speaking consistently and continuously with the public in its mainstream media. All its major media outlets. No ideological prioritization, and no personal conditioning.
We need to stop being silent. Yariv Levin prepares for a plenary vote on reducing the grounds of reasonableness, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
And this leap over the head of public opinion in Israel conveys something else, far more disturbing than the fear of the "unfairness" of certain media outlets or the "trolling" of some biased current affairs presenters. It's a partly justified concern, but it can't be an excuse for excluding feet from studios. Hard? Deal with it. Moreover, Israeli media consumers know very well what position almost every one of Israel's journalists comes from.
The more serious message conveyed by this unofficial interview curfew in Israel – in contrast to the extreme generosity towards the foreign media – is indifference to the great drama that is sweeping the public, and a conspicuous reluctance to provide answers, explain moves, and perhaps somewhat calm the atmosphere. There is no divisive practice these days, and it also leaves many supporters of government and reform helpless in times of public discord and polarization. Speak to the people. Spike to the People.
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