The Politics of English in Israel's Elections
Or how a Netanyahu attack ad hilariously backfired, and why it matters
I just got back from Israel, where one of the things I did was interview opposition co-leader Yair Lapid at a campaign stop in Lod (article forthcoming!). After our conversation, he departed for an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour—an appearance which was promptly turned into an attack ad by Benjamin Netanyahu.
At issue was Lapid’s use of English, a skill he has honed for some time, but which certainly does not match the fluency of the American-raised Netanyahu. In typical opposition research style, Likud’s spinmasters took 8 decontextualized seconds out of Lapid’s successful 17-minute interview with CNN, and captured a moment in which he says “uh” a few times like any interviewee. The footage was juxtaposed with Netanyahu delivering a speech at the United Nations, underscoring the latter’s communication prowess. Unfortunately for Netanyahu, however, the ad also claimed that Lapid had made up the word “conundrum,” revealing that while Netanyahu may have better English than Lapid, Lapid has better English than the Likud campaign.
I wrote about this amusing little moment for Tablet, because it actually illustrates a serious electoral consideration in Israel:
While this might seem like a somewhat silly tempest in a social media teapot, the debate over Lapid’s English actually has real electoral implications. For many Israeli voters, Netanyahu’s command of English has served as a proxy for his assumed expertise in handling foreign affairs, and particularly Israel’s crucial relationship with the United States…
Seeking to blunt Netanyahu’s perceived edge, his various rivals on the left, right and center—from Blue and White’s Benny Gantz and Lapid, to the New Right’s Naftali Bennett—have sought to demonstrate their English bona fides. Gantz delivered an address at last March’s AIPAC conference. Bennett has made regular international TV appearances. The purpose of these efforts are less to persuade overseas audiences than they are to appeal to domestic ones.
The way Israeli politicians use international television largely to showcase their English for Israeli voters, rather than necessarily convince non-Israeli viewers, was brilliantly lampooned by Eretz Nehederet, Israel’s SNL, back in 2015. Take a look:
Bonus: Boris Johnson Becomes Britain’s Next Prime Minister
There are many important political takes one could read about this, but you don’t need me for those. What you need me for is this video of Johnson trying and failing to blow the shofar while serving as mayor of London, before getting an assist from then-Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. You’re welcome.
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