Airheaded model to convince the West that Israel is 'like us'?
At Haaretz (where else?), leftist Aluf Benn claims that Israel is trying to use airheaded model Bar Refaeli, whose picture was on the front of Sports Illustrated's bathing suit issue last week, to soften its image abroad. According to Benn, the effort has failed.Israel's public-relations machine has tried for many years to market Israel as a villa in the jungle, a Western frontier outpost against extremist Islam. We are hit by rockets in Sderot and bomb Gaza in order to save Paris and London. Israeli leaders complain that the West is unconcerned by the danger posed by Islam, and instead of dealing with it they criticize Israel for defending itself. But the media and public opinion in the West ignore this message and insist that Israel is at least as violent as its enemies.Funny, but Refaeli, who supported Kadima according to Benn, should be exactly the image that an empty party like Kadima should want. But Refaeli represents nothing that Israel stands for. And Kadima represents nothing. And while many Western men may fantasize about Refaeli - especially now that she got the coveted cover spot - I doubt she stands for much that Americans stand for either. At least not the Americans with whom I associate. For those who have forgotten about Refaeli, here's a reminder.
Bar Refaeli is expected to prove that Israel is like the West. The young women of Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas are not photographed in bathing suits. Neither are Egyptian or Saudi Arabian girls - an advantage perhaps that stresses our belonging in the Western cultural club. In Israeli eyes, a photo of Refaeli on an airliner makes us more American and Western.
But it is doubtful whether this message is being received on the other side. No Russian model softens the Putin regime's aggressive image in the West; no Venezuelan beauty queen transforms Hugo Chavez into a liberal and democrat. Refaeli deserves credit for her personal success, and the branding project needs to continue, but they will not solve Israel's public-relations problem. Whoever wants to belong to the West needs to behave accordingly, or pay the price.
Well no one is going to name her the mind of 2008:Sorry, but if convincing the West that we're a 'liberal democracy' requires adopting the likes of Bar Refaeli as our spokespeople, I'd just as soon stay home and leave the West to wallow in its own emptiness.In the interview, Rafaeli was quoted as saying, "Why is it good to die for our country? Isn't it better to live in New York?" She was also quoted as saying, "What does it does matter, Uganda or Israel," as well as, "I am not sorry for not serving in the army, because I profited in a big way," and "I'll never bring a celebrity to Israel because they have chutzpah here like nowhere else in the world."
Her comments were published in newspapers in Israel and around the world. A few days later Yedioth published an article claiming "Now Bar is slandering Israel abroad," in reference to an interview Rafaeli gave to the fashion magazine Tattler.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:10 PM
3 Comments:
An Israeli draft-dodger as a role model for Israeli youth?
Thanks Rafaeli but no thanks!
Seems appropriate - and consistent. After all, the left in the U.S. uses "artists" (very loosely applied) to convince Americans of the evil nature of the U.S.
My take on it all is just Jewish pride. I am proud of Jewish achievement, period. Whether its a Rabbi writing a new and interesting commentary, a new Israeli telephony breakthrough or, yes, even Bar on the cover of SI.
Bar was the draft dodger but in 10 years she will be a nobody, gravity age and no particular other abilities will all take their toll. But the Givati heroes who went into Gaza in 2009, they will always be heroes and their contributions will continue for many years more.
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