Skip to main content

How Bibi turned media wrath from a curse into an asset

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is always complaining about the press, allegedly against him, while promoting his own freebie newspaper.
A man distributes the daily newspaper Israel Hayom at a train station in the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel November 19, 2015. Critics say Netanyahu, known as "Bibi," is hitting the wrong note when it comes to the media, weakening press freedom and holding sway over TV broadcasters in a country that bills itself as the Middle East's only true democracy. Since 2007, U.S. casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, a major Netanyahu supporter, has published a free handout called Israel Hayom, Israel Today. It now
Read in 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a point. The mainstream Israeli media loathes him and wishes for his downfall. Senior analysts seek flaws in his actions. Leading opinion writers find fault with his decisions. The media's attitude toward Netanyahu is reminiscent of the joke told about a Washington Times report that former President Bill Clinton's boat had sunk in the ocean and that he had walked on water all the way to safety. The headline of the report screamed, "Bill Clinton can't swim."

Here are two fresh examples of good news in the diplomatic arena for which Netanyahu did not get an iota of credit. Except, of course, from his cheerleading Israel Hayom newspaper, to which we will get to back later.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.