The straw that broke the camels back about Bet Shemesh was a report on Channel 2's Friday Studio show with Yair Lapid.
With Lapid's "sudden" resignation from the television station for the purpose of entering politics, one must wonder whether he aired the show now, a show that had been taped up to 2 months prior (even with the knowledge that such shows take time to prepare and you do not tape it one day and broadcast it the next), in order to enter the political arena on a high note with everyone talking about him and about an issue that he would capitalize on.
The problem with it is that it means Lapid would be willing to ignite the whole country in a wave of hatred and offense just to increase his own popularity, and to advance his own aspirations that he knew would be relevant immediately.
It is true the situation in Bet Shemesh was and is still volatile. Protests had recently picked up again, after a period of relative quiet. None of that changes. Yet Lapid's report seems, perhaps, to have been taking advantage of that for personal gain. Politicians have taken notice of this and are commenting in the news media about the timing of the report relative to the timing of Lapid's entry into politics.
Should such a person who is willing to incite an entire country be worthy of being involved in politics? I can understand someone taking existing hatred and strife and working on that, proposing solutions (even ones I do not like) and the like. That is different than someone who creates, or increases, the hatred and strife to create a wave upon which he himself can ride into the Knesset.
I think it's a bit over the top to say that the country has been ignited in a wave of hatred. A more balance statement might be that the broadcast was a catalyst that brought the fore issues that have been simmering for years.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I think it's unlikely that anyone anticipated just how big this story would become. What's more likely and rational, is that Lapid, who was on the verge of being forced to make a decision anyway, decided to make his political move once he saw the effect of this story.
Parts of his political platform are directly related to some of the issues that have been thrown into the spotlight. Some of his solutions to issues with regard to the Chareidi community are not so different than those of Rav Amsalem.
If he has something to offer in this arena then I think it's a good idea for him to be able to air his ideas now.
According to this comment from someone who works at Ulpan Shishi, they decided to make the broadcast only two weeks before it was shown on TV and Yair Lapid was not involved at all in that decision. You are also forgetting that there are also attempts to require journalists to have a waiting period of six months before they can enter politics. There is always the possibility that elections will be sooner than later, and it could be that Lapid didn't want to be forbidden from running.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have confirmed that the show was taped during the week that it was aired.
ReplyDeleteWhat is about Israeli politics -- or Israeli TV anchors -- that they see politics as a higher calling than being a TV anchor?
ReplyDeleteCould one imagine a US TV anchor resigning in order to run for congress?
this is the Jewish country. everybody here thinks the can do a better job...
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that he is only the most popular "Friday Night" host...
ReplyDeleteRight away thats half the country who doesn't listen to him or know of him, but the media makes it sound like everybody should.
I.e, If you don't keep shabbat, Lapid is your guy??? Ofcourse he is willing to set the entire country into a firestorm!
You mean there are qualifications needed to be a politician?
ReplyDeleteOne would hope the voters would make good choices. If not, one have to wonder what the voters' qualifications are.