Netanyahu builds next electoral platform on new podcast
With a new podcast and headquarters and renewed enthusiasm, opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu is already campaigning for the next election.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a new video podcast last week. The show follows a familiar format, with Netanyahu and a guest spending an hour discussing one of the major issues facing Israel. The guests he chooses are prominent figures from the particular focus of that show.
For example, in the first episode Netanyahu discussed the economy, a subject near and dear to him, with Avi Simchon, former chairman of the National Economic Council. Simchon is close to Netanyahu and considered one of his biggest admirers.
The location for their chat was Netanyahu’s office in Metzudat Ze’ev, the home of the Likud party, in downtown Tel Aviv. The set featured a bookcase, a flag and soothing lighting. Netanyahu used the occasion to tell stories about his own economic successes as finance minister and prime minister. Many considered Netanyahu an outstanding finance minister, responsible for major economic reforms that saw the country through the economic crisis of 2003.
Most Israelis have heard these stories before, but many listeners tuned in anyway. The podcast had 70,000 views in just a few days. Toward the end of the episode, Netanyahu talked about his 2018 meeting with American entrepreneur Elon Musk. He said Musk offered all kinds of suggestions as to how Israel could resolve its traffic problems. Musk is much better known in Israel today than he was four years ago. With his knack for PR, Netanyahu surely pulled out Musk’s name toward the end of the podcast to make headlines.
