Israeli Politicians Have Stopped Joking Around, as War Intensifies Debate

The source is a roundup of Israeli opinion and commentary pieces focused on the political and public mood during the current war period. The dominant theme is that, after months of conflict, Israeli politicians have become more sober and less prone to cheap jokes and bravado, while debate over the continuation of the fighting has sharpened.

One column argues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone too far in his appetite for war, and that the circle of opponents to continuing what the writer calls the “madness” is growing. Another says the earlier air of arrogance has given way to humility, with no more talk of a “historic victory.” A separate opinion piece says the prime minister’s latest remark is even more insulting when viewed against the position of the person who was supposed to take on the role in question.

Other items in the lineup include entertainment and culture coverage, such as a review of Madonna’s first album in seven years, and a discussion of the film “The Shining,” which is released in a luxurious edition but is said not to come close to the original movie’s heights. There is also a note about a play whose blood, murder, and revenge scenes were cut down to about 50 pages, and a review of the restoration of the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv, which cost 107 million shekels in an effort to turn back time.

The collection also highlights the journalistic price of the open channel between Barak Ravid and President Donald Trump, and ends with a personal line, “If Netanyahu were not prime minister, my sister would be alive,” underscoring the emotional intensity of the political debate.