Herzog and Livni: The bulldozer and the nerd
Op-ed: Israeli politicians have chosen to act like reality stars - with the most agressive receiving the most votes.
Tzipi Livni's media advisers, for example, appear to believe that this is the way to go. The former minister may not have much to show the public from her participation in the government, but note the verbal gall she demonstrates in labeling her former boss (Netanyahu) impotent – boosting her stature while shrinking him down to a "zero."
Isaac Herzog, her new partner, faces the same kind of mockery. Colleagues and journalists depict him as a wimpish, dull, nerdy man.
Naftali Bennett stuck a beard on his face and went out into the streets dressed up as a pathetic and apologetic figure. Who wouldn't breathe a sigh of relief the moment his true face is revealed in the promotional video, along with the truth he wishes to market: Apologies, restraint and consideration are for losers; follow me and we'll give them a good beating.
The fact that politicians portray themselves in terms of aggressiveness, audacity and masculinity is a matter of course in Israeli culture, especially in the wake of a recent war. But we're dealing here with a more threatening phenomenon – the politician who promises the public action - that with him it won't be boring.
It's no coincidence that such a strategy is reminiscent of reality shows. The most aggressive competitors, the ones who provide the drama, are protected by the viewers and texters. Where would the shows be without them? Who, for example, remembers the Miri Regev of the 2008 primaries? She was portrayed as an unknown competitor and someone trying to steal away votes from other party members.
And now, six years down the line, who isn't familiar with the Miri Regev brand? A brand that was built by means of provocative and belligerent acting in front of the cameras. She certainly can't be labeled nerdy any longer.
The aggressive character that Israeli politicians love to play is clearly a damaging one. A right-winger who wants to crown himself a leader makes a pilgrimage to the Temple Mount and sparks flames – the same flames, so it appears, that set fire to two first-grade classes at the Max Rayne Hand in Hand Bilingual School in Jerusalem just recently. If you want to shut the mouth of an elected public official or political activist, you can label him a kitty cat, a wuss, a geek. Any criticism can be easily dismissed with the help of the nerds v. bulldozer analogy. And who wants to be seen as impotent, as a party pooper?
But perhaps we should pay attention to the fact that behind the beating of the chest, behind this mask of audacious masculinity hides a different message. The politician is openly presenting himself as a celebrity, as a clown. The lives of the rich and famous are followed in minute detail in the West. The press carries in-depth commentaries and professional analyses of the most trivial developments in the life of Kim Kardashian. President Barack Obama, on the other hand, is depicted as a celebrity dressed up as the president, as someone who was more concerned with giving interviews than he was with implementing and promoting policy.
In Israel, the politicians still top the billing when it comes to gossip; their married life, the wheeling and dealing and corruption behind the scenes still dominate the headlines. But what may be perceived as positive buzz could also represent deep despair. Israel's citizens, since the days of the social protest, may have ceased to believe that the leadership can and wants to improve life in the country - make real change, take responsibility.
The findings of the Poverty Report? Yawn. The fact that more and more working people are unable to support their families? Boring, nothing new. But an alliance between Herzog and Livni? Now, that's a hot gimmick. If you can't change things for the better, the weary Israeli says to himself, you can at least offer some entertainment.
