Hatnuah party leader Tzipi Livni continues to reach new lows in Israeli public life. This time, she's done it with a propaganda campaign that depicts horribly distorted images of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Each image appears with the caption "enemy of democracy." In order to arouse hatred and fear of these figures, the images are depicted in startling shades of red and black, to make them appear as if they belong on a horror movie poster. It seems Livni's creative graphic designers forgot to add vampire fangs and blood spurting out of the corners of their mouths. That kind of image would have really helped with the incitement project.
Even if we ignore the intentionally startling and gruesome design for a moment, the very use of the term "enemy" to describe a political rival elected by a majority of the public is totally unacceptable in a properly functioning society. The nationalist camp repeatedly defeats Livni and her friends on the Left in democratic elections. But this democratically reached decision is not to her liking. Increasingly helpless, she tries to demonize and delegitimize. It is as if her pictures say, "If they don't choose me, that constitutes a threat to democracy."
With the Israeli Left, as with its forerunner, Soviet communist rule, only one outcome is deserving of the word "democracy" – when the Left wins and rules. Everyone else is an "enemy of democracy" or in terms more easily understandable to Livni's shrinking group of supporters, "enemy of the people."
It is amazing to note the ease with which a zigzagging politician, who changes camps, partners, parties and blocs at a dizzying rate, can use derogatory epithets against those who, in a manner befitting a democratic regime, dare to loyally represent their voters and consistently implement the mandate they received. The person who purports to present herself as a defender of democracy has revealed herself to be one of the most divisive inciters around. When she refers to the heads of the nationalist camp as "enemies," it serves to evoke all of those phenomena associated with the term, including calls for violence. An enemy must be stopped at any price, including through force, right?
The visual style of this propaganda campaign is remarkably appropriate given its verbal aggression. Netanyahu's and Shaked's images have not just been torn to shreds; they have been processed in such a way that renders them inhuman. It seems that in this way, the Hatnuah party leader is acting in accordance with the totalitarian propaganda manuals. A look at her campaign ads immediately evokes a plethora of emotions, the common denominator of which is the dehumanization of the photographed subject. It is precisely in this way that Jews have always been depicted in anti-Semitic ads and that Israelis are portrayed in the propaganda efforts of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
One can only imagine what would happen if someone on the Right would use such images and words to do a similar thing to Livni? The TV and radio programs would be filled with cries of "Incitement! Incitement!" And Livni herself would be interviewed as a victim and wail about – what else? The "threat to democracy."
