This is how to fan the flames of domestic war when fighting Hamas

I saw the press conference on TV last night and I had my own reaction to the way it ended. After showing how the media reported on it, I will tell you what my thoughts were at the time it was first broadcast and my thoughts after having written this piece, an act that makes me more reflective than had I not written about it.

Some in the media turned this instant into an anti-Bibi fest. Don’t get me wrong. I never voted for Bibi. I was not happy when he was re-elected time after time. I am looking forward to the accounting he will have to do after this war is over. But that does not mean I look in every corner for ways to vilify him. I am praying that he has what it takes to lead the team that will bring us to victory, unlike the countless times before when Israel settled for “ceasefire.”

Now look at this short item from Arutz 14. And yes, I watch Arutz 14. More about the reactions I get from friends because of this at some other time.

So look at this short clip. Ynon Magal shows the “X” posts that were put up focusing on the final moments of a press conference (begins at 0:25 in the video and I will copy the relevant posts below this one so I can translate them for you). Then, he shows the way the conference ended after that moment-frozen-in-time (begins at 1:12). That’s the part the other media outlets chose to ignore. So watch:

ככה תקשורת מזוהמת בונה שקר
ורודפת את ביבי

וככה ערוץ 14 מוריד אותם על הבירכיים עם הסירטון המלא

צפו@netanyahu pic.twitter.com/6ciSOi7tVe

— Zehava🌷 (@smbas777) November 13, 2023

Here are the “X” posts to which Magal referred:

Kann News (Channel 11) posted this videoclip of the end of the press conference with the words: “At the end of the joint press conference: Gantz and Galant shake hands — Netanyahu left on the side

בסיום ההצהרה המשותפת: גנץ וגלנט לוחצים ידיים – נתניהו נשאר בצד pic.twitter.com/VELLkM4OH1

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 11, 2023

Michael Shemesh — also from Channel 11 — posts this image with the text: “Picture of the political situation”

תמונת המצב הפוליטית pic.twitter.com/d7sExNVh7b

— מיכאל שמש Michael Shemesh (@shemeshmicha) November 11, 2023

Arad Nir – on N12 News – with the text: “Picture of the day. Picture of the period is worth 1000 words.”

תמונה היום
תמונת התקופה
שווה אלף מילים pic.twitter.com/8AWjZWQn1O

— Arad Nir (@arad_nir) November 11, 2023

Walla News – With the text: “Two against one: This is the axis of war.” This one is particularly cynical — they show a video as if their clip is the true end of the press conference, simply cutting off how it really ended.

שניים נגד אחד: זה הציר של המלחמה pic.twitter.com/3sXNkHGEEQ

— וואלה (@WallaNews) November 11, 2023

The original video included G and G shaking Netanyahu’s hand as they walked off the stage. My first impression while watching the news was to note the warmth between G and G and the official show of respect to Bibi, if not to him personally (I have no doubt they do not like the man) but to his position (after all, he is the Prime Minister of the State of Israel). Then I thought no more of it until seeing the big deal that was being made of it on “X”.

Now, after having written this piece, I am left with the following questions:

1. Why could the other news outlets not have emphasized that aspect of it – the show of respect before the nation? Why turn this brief moment into another anti-Bibi celebration? And, as a result of them having exploited this moment for such a purpose, I am left with the next question:
2. Why are those who denigrate Arutz 14 for being politically biased (someone told me the channel was established solely for the purpose of promoting Bibi) not raising their voices against this obvious bias? And why are they not raising their voices against the fact that such politicization is occurring at this very point in time — when we are fighting for our lives? Everyone is calling for unity. Why are they working against unity?

Finally: Notice the little icon in the top left-hand corner of the video: “GPO [Government Press Office] and יחד ננצח [together we will win]”

TOGETHER! Please do not forget that dear media news channels. As I read in a post by one soldier in Gaza — please ensure that we have a country to come home to.