Ex-Channel 14 Host: Netanyahu Has Become a Toxic Brand

Former Channel 14 presenter and media personality Shi Golden has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters, criticizing their mockery of Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of 'Yishai!', for his media appearances. Golden questioned the right-wing camp's celebration of Eisenkot's perceived lack of polish compared to Netanyahu, drawing parallels to past Israeli leaders like Shamir, Sharon, and Begin, noting that Shamir and Sharon had warned against Netanyahu. Golden argued that if Netanyahu's media skill is the sole criterion for suitability, then the camp has lost its purpose.

Golden also severely criticized Netanyahu's foreign policy and public diplomacy efforts over recent years, warning of dire consequences for Israel-US relations. He stated that despite Netanyahu's international media presence, including numerous interviews with Fox News, Israel has reached a point where even in America, Republicans have turned against the country. Golden asserted that Netanyahu has become a "toxic brand" and a "red flag" for many globally, completely identified with Israel, and that his media persona no longer resonates in the West.

He concluded that Netanyahu's supposed expertise in media has resulted in a "devastating, bitter, and existentially dangerous failure" for Israel. Golden called for a change in national leadership, suggesting that only replacing Netanyahu's "toxic brand" with a new, "human" face for Israel could potentially repair relations. He emphasized the need for a leader whose image is not "engineered, robotic, programmed," and one that the world can still bear to see and hear.