New Media in Israel

This report expands on two key events within the present Israeli society and discourse between 8.4.2018 and 10.4.2018:

1. The circulation of a video on social media depicting an Israeli soldier celebrating the execution of a young Palestinian man by sniper near the border of the Gaza Strip. Pro-Israeli groups and individuals quickly rose to the soldier’s defense, dubbing the Palestinian a ‘terrorist,’ while and despite confirmed reports that the young man was on a football (soccer) field during a match.

 2. The celebration of ‘Israeli Independence’ where the head of the Israeli government wishes to give a speech alongside the President of Honduras.

Reports by Israeli news sources indicate a meeting between the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that led to a heated argument where Edelstein insisted that Netanyahu not give a speech on the 70th anniversary of Independence; further reports emerged detailing the insistence of Netanyahu and the support of Miri Regev, the Minister of Culture and Sport and the one responsible for the details of the festivities, to give a speech at the event.

Based on these reports, Netanyahu is scheduled to light the torch and read a few lines from the declaration of independence, while the Speaker of the Knesset attends.

Conflating reports indicated that the President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, would light the torch for independence creating confusion and contradiction. This report further asserted the probability of Netanyahu’s central presence at the event.

Uproar ensued as Juan Hernandez cancelled his trip, citing pressure from Israel’s political left.