Danny Kushmaro and Panel Unintentionally Reveal 'Ulpan Shishi' Program's Core Issue

On August 8, 2026, Israeli journalist Danny Kushmaro and the panel on Channel 12's 'Ulpan Shishi' unintentionally exposed the program's underlying problem during a broadcast. The show featured three interviews with Yoav Horowitz, who was presented as the person closest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the interviews offered little new information, largely reiterating what was already known or assumed by the public. Horowitz described himself as having undergone a personal transformation, but his revelations failed to provide fresh insights.

The segment became notable when Kushmaro and the panel inadvertently revealed more about themselves and the show's approach than about their guest or the political context. The coverage highlighted a recurring issue in the program's format, where repeated interviews with supposedly influential insiders yield minimal substantive content. This critique was underscored by the fact that Horowitz remains relatively unknown to the Israeli public despite being portrayed as a key figure.

The article, authored by Dror Rafael, also included references to other interviews on the show, such as one conducted by Yaron Avraham with Horowitz, and mentioned figures like Gadi Eizenkot. The piece serves as a media critique, emphasizing the need for more original and impactful journalism in political programming on Israeli television.