[NOT satire] Maariv: Netanyahu aides say they’ve decided that Blair lead Gaza Hasbara
[Teaser] Quartet’s Middle East envoy stands at the front of Israeli Hasbara]
[Headline] Israel introduces: Spokesman Tony Blair
[Sub-headline] Israel’s policy has a new media representative: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has enlisted his vast experience and international standing to explain the decision to ease the the Gaza blockade; And media whiz Netanyahu? He continues to hide behind the curtains
Eli Bardenstein, Maariv, June 22 2010 [page 8; Hebrew original here and at bottom of post]
It turns out that Quartet envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair was the person who in fact presented to the international media the change in the policy of the Israeli government on the Gaza blockade. This was decided in coordination with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. And what was the prime minister’s contribution to helping Israeli PR efforts? He made do with a short statement to the press that he gave at the Likud faction meeting, and another laconic statement in English that was given to the foreign media.
Indeed, since two evenings ago, Blair has been going from one television studio to the next; he gave six interviews in two days, he handled tough questions from interviewers and he is trying to employ his great experience to enlist support in international public opinion for the relaxing of the blockade and for Israel’s new policy.
Netanyahu’s aides explained that the most important arena was that of the media and international public opinion. It was therefore decided that it would be better to have Blair present the important change in the government’s policy since he is considered objective and of international stature and since the decision about relaxing the blockade was made in coordination with him.
Blair met in Israel yesterday with a series of public figures and politicians, among them Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom, Deputy Prime Minister and Intelligence Affairs Minister Dan Meridor and Opposition Chairwoman Tzippi Livni. Earlier he met in Ramallah with PA Chairman Abu Mazen and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
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NOT satire: They refer to Blair as British PRESIDENT in the first line of the story. Was also up on the NRG website for a few hours this morning until someone corrected it.
Tony Blair has much in common with fellow citizens Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and cancer researcher Dr. Brooke Magnanti.
Just wondering if the Hebrew is good enough here:
חדשות – NOT the Arutz7 news – English subtitles
The Hebrew is quite bad, I’m afraid, nearly undecipherable.
“Yo Blair”, it gives me such good cheer to see your vacuous, smiling face! (sarcasm intended)