Israeli Actor Sparks Controversy With 'Bibist' Remark About Flight Hero

Israeli actor Sharon Alexander found himself at the center of a social media storm after posting a comment on Facebook about Yiniv Hayoun, one of the passengers who helped subdue a co-pilot on a recent Flydubai flight. Alexander wrote, "I don't like to admit it, he was a Bibist." The post generated significant backlash, prompting Alexander to clarify his intentions.

Alexander explained that his comment was intended sarcastically and was actually a critique of the tendency to automatically stereotype supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He stated that he wrote, "I don't like to admit it, he was a Bibist" in reference to the passenger who first confronted the co-pilot, and that the ensuing controversy arose immediately. He urged those criticizing him to reconsider their interpretation, suggesting they may have misunderstood or that he failed to express himself clearly.

While Alexander affirmed that he does not intend to vote for Netanyahu or any party that would keep him in power, and has strongly criticized the current government, he noted that the incident reminded him that political affiliations do not necessarily define an individual's character. He observed that people with high human qualities can be found among Netanyahu's supporters, just as he sometimes sees people among his own political camp behaving in ways he finds difficult to accept. He concluded that "stupidity, thoughtlessness, and hypocrisy cross political camps."

Alexander further clarified that his post was also intended as a critique of himself and his friends, specifically targeting their tendency to apply automatic and negative stereotypes to Netanyahu's voters. He emphasized that the passengers' quick thinking and bravery prevented a disaster, not the Prime Minister.

Following the intense reactions, Alexander announced in a subsequent post that he would begin blocking users who used curses or offensive language towards him or other commenters, stating he was tired of the ease with which some commenters resorted to such behavior. He declared that anyone who curses, defames, dirties, or threatens would be immediately blocked and reported, with a screenshot of their comment attached.