We've been watching the satirically edgy re-election campaign ads coming from Bibi Netanyahu's Likud Party political consultants. But while they've made a huge media splash, Likud's chief rivals in the Zionist Union have steadily made gains and now lead in some polls (though coming in first in Israel's multi-party parliamentary system is no guarantee of leading the government).
But the Zionist Union ad campaign is primarily serious, charging the incumbent Prime Minister with neglecting social needs and a posturing on national security.
Ivgy speaks of Israel in "The 89th Minute," referring to the last minute of a soccer match, seemingly about to lose. Shot like a movie, we see Ivgy tour a dilapidated Israel, and he paints a picture of a country in tatters: "Every third child in this country is hungry. Old people lying in the corridors for hours, waiting for treatment." And he seeks to strip Netanyahu of his hawkish reputation: "You can't sleep at night without fear of terrorists, tunnels and the Iranian bomb they tell us about from sunrise to sunset."
Then Ivgy turns hopeful: "It is only the 89th minute. We still have time before the 90th ... All it takes is one move." We then see two children racing down a dirt field with their soccer ball, as Ivgy excitedly describes a move "that will return Israel to what it once was, the power, the energy, the positivity."
The intensely emotional Zionist Union ad has nothing in common with the satiric Likud campaign, except for the total lack of policy proposals. We'll find out next week if seriousness can trump slapstick.
Spare Change For Sara Netanyahu?
The Zionist Union media team has toyed with humorous ads too, namely this one featuring young Israelis begging in the streets to raise money for Bibi's wife, who has been charged with using taxpayer dollars on personal luxuries. (Another Likud ad tries to defuse the issue with more comedy.)But the Zionist Union ad campaign is primarily serious, charging the incumbent Prime Minister with neglecting social needs and a posturing on national security.
Moshe Ivgy Stars In Powerful Zionist Union Ad
One of the most popular political ads on the Zionist Union YouTube channel is one featuring Israeli actor Moshe Ivgy, who won an Israeli Academy Award and also had a role in the Steven Spielberg film "Munich."Ivgy speaks of Israel in "The 89th Minute," referring to the last minute of a soccer match, seemingly about to lose. Shot like a movie, we see Ivgy tour a dilapidated Israel, and he paints a picture of a country in tatters: "Every third child in this country is hungry. Old people lying in the corridors for hours, waiting for treatment." And he seeks to strip Netanyahu of his hawkish reputation: "You can't sleep at night without fear of terrorists, tunnels and the Iranian bomb they tell us about from sunrise to sunset."
Then Ivgy turns hopeful: "It is only the 89th minute. We still have time before the 90th ... All it takes is one move." We then see two children racing down a dirt field with their soccer ball, as Ivgy excitedly describes a move "that will return Israel to what it once was, the power, the energy, the positivity."
The intensely emotional Zionist Union ad has nothing in common with the satiric Likud campaign, except for the total lack of policy proposals. We'll find out next week if seriousness can trump slapstick.