- Title: ISRAEL: In Israel political satire can be the source of more than just laughs
- Date: 9th January 2013
- Summary: CLOSE OF PUPPET OF NETANYAHU BEING PAINTED VARIOUS OF HAIRDRESSER USING HAIR DRYER TO BLOW OUT THE PUPPET OF NETANYAHU'S HAIR VIEW OF PUPPET OF NETANYAHU'S HAIR BEING BLOWN OUT VARIOUS OF STUDIO WHERE PUPPETS FOR SATIRE SHOW 'BUBA SHEL MEDINA' (IN ENGLISH: "A DOLL OF A COUNTRY") ARE BEING PREPARED CLOSE OF PUPPETS HAIR BEING COMBED CLOSE OF PUPPET OFAHMED TIBI, ISRAELI AR
- Embargoed: 24th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Entertainment,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAAM1NBV3W3MP9T7506ANM70I87
- Story Text: As Israeli elections near, academics say political humour has the power to shape perceptions of candidates' political fortunes.
Political satire in Israel is bringing its young viewers to politics as the nation prepares for elections on January 22.
Undecided voters make up about 20 percent of the population in Israel. They are young and uninvolved in politics, communications Professor Gabriel Weimann of Haifa University says, and their exposure to political satire could have an impact on their vote.
In a dark and gloomy cramped studio in one of Tel Aviv's more slummy neighborhoods, puppets representing some of Israel's political figures lined the dusty shelves.
Two young pupeteers cared for their children and their puppets, which they touched up with paint and gloss just days before the premiere of the latest in a series of political satire shows to be aired in Israel weeks ahead of a general election.
The puppet representing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a long nose and puffy lips that appeared asymmetric while the puppet of Shelly Yahimovich, head of the Labour party, Israel's second biggest party, appeared to have a big face and chubby cheeks.
"It's a funny program, it presents politicians in a funny way, it is full of humour, it is also full with critism; nevertheless, beyond the fun part, the entertaining part, there is also a serious discussion of political issues," said Professor Weimann from his home in the coastal town of Caesaria.
Mostly critical of public figures, political humor tends to focus on their personal flaws.
"It presents the faults of politicians, it critises the way they are manipulating the voters and in that way it has some potentially important impact," said Weimann.
Alongside a series of political satire shows that recently hit television screens across the country, Israel's Channel 10 aired "Buba Shel Medina", or in English "A Doll of a Country", near the end of November, just weeks ahead of January 22 general election.
Some of Israel's most popular talents play a role in the panel beside a handful of puppets depicting candidates running in the upcoming poll.
Candidates anointed by the media as "likely winners" are fodder for the political satirists on the prime time TV show.
With 16.2 percent rating this week, according to Israel's The Marker.com media outlet, the new satire show has gained popularity after only two weeks on air.
Professor Weimann said the popularity among a population that is usually detached from politics can potentially bring about a more democratic election process.
"They attract populations that are usually disinterested in the political system, in the voting elections and this is a very positive, a very important effect if you consider that the more people are involved in politics, are interested and go to vote, the better the democracy is".
Yuval Binder, who dubs Netanyahu's puppet, said he senses that Netanyahu tries to convey a message of strength.
"I think that Bibi mostly tries to convey, to give people the feel that he has the strength and the power to lead the country so he invents phrases in the UN (United Nations) so people will keep it in mind like 'if it looks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it's a nuclear duck', ok so these kind of things," said Binder, imitating Netanyahu's remarks at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), referring to the hints that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon.
Nicki Goldstein, who dubs Yahimovich, said his impersonation of the Labour leader takes her character to the extreme.
"I saw a lot of YouTubes on Shelly to, you know, to work on the character I took her voice a little bit and her trying to be very very very considerate and very for the people," Goldstein said as he gripped the long haired doll by its head.
Despite satirists' criticism of candidates' issue positions damning characteristics such as physical qualities, perceptions of leaders are also shaped by their mere presence on entertainment media.
"Even the appearance on political satire, which is very often very negative and very funny is considered by politicians a positive presentation if only for the simple fact that they are presented that they are on the stage that they are there and the fact that the more important politician you are, the more likely you are going to be on a political satire makes them very attracted to this kind of content," said Weimann.
Political satire appears to be a powerful tool in shaping viewers perceptions of candidates' political fortunes-and, in doing so, may also shape the reality of those fortunes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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