New Media in Israel

This issue of the Newsletter covers the period 21-24 January 2018. Israeli social media networks were preoccupied with a number of issues. Most notably, social media activists highlighted a protest by MKs of the Joint List, who hoisted banners saying “Jerusalem is the Capital of Palestine” during the US Vice President Mike Pence’s speech at the Knesset. The Knesset security guards expelled the Joint List MKs from the Knesset session.

The protest and expulsion of the Joint List MKs became the subject of conversation on Israeli social media platforms. Israeli bloggers instigated against these Joint List MKs, claiming that they were haters of Israel, fifth columnists, and should be banned from the Knesset altogether.

Also, Israeli social media networks interacted with a demonstration organised by a group of activists against Legal Advisor to the Israeli Government Avichai Mandelblit, when he arrived at a synagogue in Petah Tikva. Social media activists argued that the demonstration was “unethical”. It placed tremendous pressure on Mandelblit and on his assistants and supporters. Mandelblit visited the synagogue to say a prayer for his mother!. Protestors obstructed and forced Mandelblit to leave the synagogue immediately.

Poet Yehonatan Geffen published a post on Instagram, arousing the full ire of many Israelis. Geffen compared Ahed Tamimi to Anne Frank, a Jewish girl. Anne became a legend after her diary gained fame. She wrote the diary in her hiding place in the Netherlands while the Nazis persecuted the Jews in the 1940s. Consequently, Avigdor Lieberman, Minister of Security and Director of the Army Radio, issued an order to the radio editors to ban Geffen, allegedly because he was a hater of Israel.