Legendary Israeli Broadcaster Haim Yavin Reveals He Voted for Meretz, Not Mapai

Haim Yavin, the iconic Israeli television broadcaster known as "Mr. Television," passed away at the age of 93. Throughout his career, Yavin was widely perceived as a supporter of Mapai, the historic Labor Party, reflecting his association with Israel's old political elite. However, in a revealing interview on his 90th birthday, Yavin disclosed to radio host Nissim Mishal that he had actually voted for the Meretz party, a detail that surprised many given his public image.

Yavin was a founding figure of Israeli television and anchored the news program "Mabat" for nearly four decades. He famously coined the term "the upheaval" during the 1977 election night when the Likud party, led by Menachem Begin, came to power, a phrase that has since become embedded in Israeli political discourse.

Despite his long-standing public association with Mapai and the Labor movement, Yavin's political preference at the ballot box was for Meretz, a left-wing party, highlighting a nuanced personal political stance that contrasted with his public persona. His contributions to Israeli media and political culture remain significant.