All are anti-Semites? We are more! Yediot Ahronot, Israel’s largest paid newspaper
By www.roytov.com
I can seldom claim to be delighted during my daily tours within the Hebrew media darkest corners; the offensive image I reproduced in yesterday’s article is a good explanation why. Yet, today, May 19, 2013, I had a pleasant surprise on the Yedioth Ahronot portal. A small box linked there to a comment on yesterday’s Eurovision Song Contest. In its fine print, one can read: “All are anti-Semites? We are more!”
With such an irrational competitiveness, it is not surprising that Israel didn’t reach the final stage, fact that provoked the delightful remark.
YNET: “We have nothing to search for in Eurovision “The fact that Moran Mazor didn’t reach the finals proves that there is nothing for us to search there. All are anti-Semites? We are more!”
Eurovision is a continental song contest which includes countries from Europe and nearby. In 2013, its 58thevent took place in Sweden. In Israel, Eurovision is a sensitive issue since it is one of the few international competitions that the country won three times. Probably the most memorable apparition of Israel in “Erovizion,” as it is pronounced by Hebrew speakers, was of singer Gali Atari with Milk and Honey at Jerusalem. It was one of the few convincing peace declarations ever made by an Israeli. “Aleluya LaOlam,” were its first words: “Praise God always and everywhere.” Of course, this is far from being Israel’s official policy.
Aleluya, Gali Atari with Milk and Honey Jerusalem, 1979 Aleluya
Along the years, Israel provided various scandals in the competition. Its presence is the reason why Arab countries don’t participate, despite being allowed. Following the initial nationalistic hysteria due to two consecutive victories, the popularity of the event in Israel decayed. In 2013, barely over 4% of the public watched it.
Over the years, the contest was split in several stages due to the large number of participants. This year, Israel was eliminated during the semifinals; thus its song wasn’t featured in yesterday’s event.
This cut a lot of fun. More often than not, Hebrew media is obsessed with the voting, which is featured live. It is the ultimate “anti-Semitism Test.” “France didn’t give us even one point, they are anti-Semites!” is the favorite format. “Germany gave us 12 points in order to hide that they are the worst anti-Semites!” is also a popular comment. The names of the countries are changed according to the situation. If Israel doesn’t win the first place, then “all are anti-Semites!” This year this ancient nationalistic rite couldn’t be performed. The bad girl had ruined it.
Moran Mazor – Rak Bishvilo
Israel Attacks an Israeli GirlOften, Eurovision participants are newcomers to the music industry. This is true regarding this year’s winner, Emmelie de Forest from Denmark. The same goes for Israel’s participant, Moran Mazor, who sang “Rak Bishvilo” (“Only for Him,” or literally “Only in his Path”). She sang but wasn’t listened. She couldn’t be listened not only because Israel didn’t reach the final.
The vote in the competition is public; the more a song is exposed before the event, the best are its chances. Despite the usual Hebrew-media hysteria surrounding the event, Moran was barely heard in the State radio (Kol Israel stations). The Army Radio didn’t even bother to enter her in its playlist, refusing twice public requests to do so, meaning that Moran was actually censored since these two networks form the bulk of Israeli broadcasts.
Another strike came in the form of malevolent gossip. Consistently, statistics show that Israeli women are among the heaviest in Europe and surrounding countries. In 2013, Israel rates second after Turkey. As those watching the video reproduced above (for certain reasons I couldn’t, but I have seen her picture elsewhere) can judge, Moran generously helped to increment the average. After being criticized for her weight by the entire country, she was also the target of criticism for the cost of broadcasting the event in Israel (roughly one million dollars on various items) as if the event was broadcast only due to her participation. As Yediot Ahronot summarized: We are more anti-Semites!
Avoy! Hitler didn’t die in 1945, he is hiding as a young girl and singing his way around! All are anti-Semites!
Roi Tov is a graduate—among others—of Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science. In addition to his memoir, Tov is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Molecular Physics and other scientific journals. He won various travel writing and photography awards.
In his writings, he tries to reveal life in Israel as a Christian Israel Defense Force (IDF) officer—from human rights violations to the use of an extensive network of underground agents. He was recognized first as a refugee and subsequently as political prisoner of Bolivia.
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