Politicians celebrate with online videos
Add a new tradition to the fireworks, barbecues and air shows on Independence Day: Online videos by politicians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went with an inspirational message, replete with Israeli flags waving, pictures of the Western Wall and soaring violin music.
“We are fulfilling the great dream of our nation,” Netanyahu said. “I know we can overcome any challenge.”
“Where were we 75 years ago, and where are we today? Who would believe it? We believe,” he added.
Netanyahu said the secret of Israel is its people, concluding that there is nothing like Israel and the Israeli people.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) went with a more humorous bent in a video that’s part of his campaign for reelection as Labor leader in July.
Herzog offered his best tips for an Independence Day barbecue, but the tips doubled as political strategy, like “keep the flames low,” as opposed to a clip of Netanyahu lamenting Arab voters coming out in droves for the 2015 election.
When a guest asked for vegetarian food, Herzog says he always has different kinds of food for everyone – doubling for tolerance for different parts of society.
“It doesn’t really matter what the chef looks like, the color of his hair or how nice it is. What’s most important is that no one goes hungry,” he added.
Oddly, one of the guests at Herzog’s barbecue is Rodrigo Gonzales, a TV personality and former contestant on Take Me, Sharon, an Israeli dating show.