People don’t often decide in advance to watch or listen to a well-advertised television interview. One such rare example happened last Tuesday when Ynon Magar, the provocative and controversial host of the Patriots’ talk show. channel 14 – Appeared in channel 11 Talk show Meeting with Roni Kuban.
Kuban’s program is gentle, smooth, informative, and has a reputation for being the best interview show on Israeli television these days. The walls display a collection of meticulously researched photographs documenting the lives of the interviewees.
Kuban is an intelligent and inquisitive interviewer who meticulously does his homework before each show and never intentionally offends or insults his interviewees.
Will Kuban keep his cool in the interview?
I was curious to see if Kuban would maintain his usual calm, matter-of-fact demeanor during his interview with Magar. The answer was “not exactly.”
He was not as disrespectful, mocking, or insulting as Magal is on his Channel 14 show (towards the panelists (most of whom are far-right like himself) or the guests (always right-wing). do not have). To leftists and centrists in general, and leftists and centrists in particular.
Kuban chose to respond to Magar in a cynical manner, even calling the way Magar approached one of his questions “pathetic.” The question was whether Magar remembered the occasion when he criticized Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he is known to admire.
Magal recalled Netanyahu’s grand entrance with his wife Sara to the annual Independence Day ceremony on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl. Mr. Magal apparently believed Netanyahu’s takeover of the ceremonies was unnecessary, since at the time these ceremonies were hosted by the speaker of parliament.
“Sure, you can do more than that,” Kuban retorted, and Magal picked up his cell phone and called his colleague (in the middle of the interview) to refresh his memory. Later, during the national emergency government established in the 23rd parliament against the backdrop of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not abide by the rotation agreement with Benny Gantz, which led to criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is said that
But what was so extraordinary was how Kuban got the narcissistic Magar to open up about his beliefs, various shortcomings, and failures in life.
Magar said he believes the coming of the Messiah is near. This is also why I believe this is one of the best times in Israel’s history, when most Israelis (Jews, of course) are looking for their sources of information and I believe that it is open. There are also new payment options and this is not one of the worst times as generally maintained.
He also believes in God (although he only wears a kippah on Saturdays) and believes that what happened on October 7th was God’s punishment for various anti-religious events in Israel.
“So it is God, and not Netanyahu, who is responsible for the October 7 disaster?” Kuban asked. Magar did not even seriously try to answer this impossible question.
Magar resented being called a “shofar,” a consultant to the Netanyahu government rather than a real journalist. As far as he is concerned, that is the entire Israeli media (including Israel Hayom), with exceptions. channel 14, Rather than honestly reporting events, it is spreading lies and trying to force the right-wing government out of office.
Surprisingly, Magar admitted that he had trouble commanding a team when he was an officer in Sayeret Matkal in the 1990s. He also spoke candidly about the fact that he traveled to India at the end of his military service, where he took hallucinogens. Magal said that when he was in Goa, he stood in the middle of the street and directed traffic with a broom when he was under the influence of drugs. According to him, while this was happening, he was recognized by some Israelis with whom he served in the army and who were visiting Goa.
Mr Magal also said that Habayit Hayehudi’s short career as MK under Naftali Bennett’s government ended in November 2015 due to sexual harassment allegations against him, and that he had perhaps acted too leniently in the past. Admitted.
When Kuban asked him to choose a photo from the walls of his studio, he chose one from the early days of the Fall.
Why is this important?
This is important because despite everything, Magals are known to be charming people. I personally have never experienced or observed the reported attractions of Magar, but last Tuesday I found an interesting interaction with the Kuban. There he seemed eager to “deliver the goods,” but at the same time it became clear to the Kuban that he saw him as a member of the Maguar. The lying media is a little twisted.
Every time I watch the Patriots, I find Magal’s tone and intonation quite unpleasant. Many of the show’s panelists are equally disgusting in the way they speak, and if they avoided ridicule and spoke in a more friendly tone, I would sometimes agree with or empathize with what they say. I tell myself, I could have done that too. Or at least feel some level of camaraderie towards them.
As if to add legitimacy to what I’m saying, last Saturday night, as I was putting the finishing touches on my article, a six-person panel of Magals and Patriots He spent nearly 20 minutes mocking Judaizers. – Reality and imagination – Overseas.
In particular, he ridiculed the misery of residents of the Gaza border area, who are trying to come up with a plan to rebuild their homes destroyed by Hamas on October 7th. and the fabricated fact that only five people were taking part in a demonstration on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv that night against the government and demanding the immediate return of the hostages.
In fact, it was announced that five protesters had been detained after police used riot water cannons to disperse a crowd of several thousand people, and the number of people detained was later updated to 21. .
The program also featured Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussing the government’s decision to increase the number of new apartment buildings being built in and around Ma’ale Adumim in response to the terrorist attack on Highway 1 near the capital. made fun of him for criticizing him. Last Thursday in a town on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Blinken had argued that the decision violated international law because Mare Adumim is being built on “occupied territory.” The panel added that the international legal system in general appears to be solely aimed at delegitimizing Israel.
If you listen to Magal’s daily show with Ben Caspit on the 103FM radio station from time to time, you may actually hear him talking like a normal human being, but even on this show. There were several bombings and disappearances.
The bottom line is that Magal unfortunately has a voice in the Israeli media, and the fact that the Patriots’ ratings continue to rise means that more and more viewers are supporting these messages and the style of this show. That’s what it means. This is certainly cause for concern about what awaits us in the future from a media perspective.
The author worked for many years as a researcher in the Knesset and has published extensively both journalistic and academic articles on current events and Israeli politics. Her latest book, Israeli Knesset Members – A Comparative Study of Undefined Jobs, was published by Routledge.