Social Media Star Announces Knesset Run With New Party

Social media personality and activist Semion Grafman has announced his candidacy for the Knesset, leading a new party called 'Betach, Social Security.' The party aims to address social and civil issues that Grafman believes have been neglected in recent years. A central focus of his platform is the escalating addiction crisis in Israel, particularly among soldiers, reservists, survivors, and war-affected individuals grappling with trauma since the October 7th attacks.

Grafman defines addiction broadly, encompassing not only drugs and alcohol but also prescription medications, sleeping pills, painkillers, gambling, excessive screen time, food, and compulsive behaviors used to cope with distress. He shared that he has personally dealt with addiction issues for years, and the ongoing war has exacerbated the problem within Israeli society, leading many families to struggle with dependencies.

His proposed policy initiatives include prevention, early detection, rehabilitation, and recovery programs, alongside expanded mental health services and reduced waiting times for treatment. The 'Betach' party's platform will also cover the rehabilitation of soldiers and war victims, mental health, the cost of living, financial literacy, preventative medicine, housing, reducing bureaucracy, and improving public services.

'It's time for the state to take care of people before they reach the breaking point,' Grafman stated. 'We need to talk about the day after the war, not just in terms of security, but also about the trauma, the addictions, the families, and the lives we want to rebuild here.' The deadline for party list submissions is ten days away.