February 27, 2006
Negative Ads...In Israel
To start the week with an international flavor, here's a contrast ad broadcast by the Likud party in Istael.
It takes on acting Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, a member of the new (and leading) Kadima party, for refusing to accept responsibility for the violence that accompanied the ouster of Jews from settlements.
Those readers more adept at translating Hebrew are welcome to help us figure out the full script.
Posted at 08:50 AM
Comments
For the record: negative campaign ads in Israel are nothing new. The mudslinging common in Israeli politics, during election season and otherwise, makes British and American politics look polite and deferential by comparison.
For example, I still remember Labour anti-Sharon ad slogans along the lines of "al tatzbiya la-shamen" (loose translation: don't vote for Fatso). That was one of the gentler ones... and that was years ago.
If you're looking for translators of Israeli campaign ads, I hope you have a stomach for bare-knuckled politics. In politics, as in other areas of human endeavor, Israelis do not mince words.
respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline
Daniel in Brookline | 02.27.06 10:29 AM
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My very good friend Jason asked me to check the ad and translate it for you. While I disagree with everything this ad tries to communicate, I simply can not say no to Jason so here it is:
“It is not the horses…
It is not the police…
It is defiantly not the soldiers….
It is Olmert’s election campaign.
He vetoed any compromise [with what happened in Amuna]
…and the evacuation of nine houses resulted in 219 people wounded.
Olmert lacks sensitivity
Olmert lacks responsibility
He can not be given a country [to lead]”
Nothing but BS. Sorry, I had to.
Daniel | 02.27.06 08:33 PM
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I have to disagree slightly with Daniel about the 'advert'. Although I won't be voting Likud in the Israeli elections and think the advert goes to far it is not a million miles away from the truth.
The fact is to disengage 8,000 people less than a handful were injured and to pull down nine homes so many people were beaten and trampled on. This was obviously done with elections in mind to show the public that Olmert (who has no security past to present to the electorate) could show Israel that he means what he is saying and he is Sharon's successor.
Horses were never used in the Gaza disengagement and nor were batons.
It is clear that the order came from somewhere to take the 'gloves off', and who is to say it didn't come from the top. In the lead up to elections almost every event must be seen through the prism off playing to the electorate.
Ash Perez | 02.28.06 11:39 AM
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