Skip to main content

What Bibi gets wrong about Israeli media

The Israeli public perceives a media landscape dominated by left-wing positions, but reality tells another story.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Thursday, Aug 11, 2016. REUTERS/Dan Balilty/Pool - RTSML9B
Read in 

The meaning of the apology offered by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman after the crude tongue lashing he gave President Barack Obama on Aug. 5 regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s swift disavowal of Liberman's remarks, goes beyond the arena of US-Israeli relations. One can assume that the political echelon will from now on be careful in mentioning the words “nuclear Iran.” Along with its Iranian enemy, the Israeli right is soon going to be losing its “American enemy,” Barack Hussein Obama. It will take a few months and several new West Bank settlement outposts before the next US president can be portrayed as an Israel basher. So who’s left?

Netanyahu has reconciled with Turkey and has kindly suggested that Israel’s Arab citizens should prosper. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is out for the count, and the Israeli left doesn’t count. How much mileage can Netanyahu get out of blasting Hamas and inciting against left-wing organizations? True, Netanyahu will always have Naftali Bennett, chairman of HaBayit HaYehudi, as a punching bag, but a partner in the governing coalition, especially a religious Jew, cannot be portrayed as a true enemy. Therefore, once again the “leftist mafia” has been designated the role of Trojan horse.

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.