Risky move: #AskNetanyahu quickly backfires for Israeli PM

RT

In what could at best be described as a risky PR move, and at worst just asking for trouble, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened himself up to the world of Twitter with an “Ask Netanyahu” social media campaign, yielding predictably funny results.  

Within minutes of the announcement, people made use of the hashtag to question the Israeli leader about pressing issues.

The Q&A session was set to take place Thursday morning to honor Israeli Independence Day.

Questions ranged from being of a mildly amusing tone to scathing truths about Israel’s illegal activity. There were artworks, gifs, memes and disturbing images of dead Palestinian children. Surely not what Bibi had in mind.

Many of the tweets asked how Netanyahu feels about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

https://twitter.com/xDimpleZ/status/730465152898879490

Some people were curious about Netanyahu’s political career and his decisions made as prime minister.

https://twitter.com/basemn63/status/730432935396925440

https://twitter.com/ljeanabldrco/status/730439843017310213

https://twitter.com/PikeyPix/status/730468419217264640

https://twitter.com/OccuWorld/status/730445658881056768

https://twitter.com/Kakolimrinalini/status/730438362381877248

One wondered why someone who called for genocide had been appointed his justice minister, referring to statements made by Ayelet Shaked.

https://twitter.com/wherepond/status/730463795626250240

https://twitter.com/CuckerPunch/status/730444821614075905

Others asked what it is that makes Israel a “beacon of democracy”, wondering whether the “public executions of children”might factor in.

https://twitter.com/eddie1971nyc/status/730460359111237634

https://twitter.com/wherepond/status/730467192035250176

Another user pondered the people of Israel.

https://twitter.com/ljeanabldrco/status/730463589249732608

https://twitter.com/eddie1971nyc/status/730451466763288577

While some of the questions could be construed as “trolling” many appeared to be genuinely curious about Netanyahu’s decisions.

Someone pointed out the example of a Holocaust survivor, who is known to support the people of Gaza, asking Netanyahu why this was.

https://twitter.com/wherepond/status/730463155349032960

Others focused on the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, a global grassroots movement which Israel enthusiastically fights worldwide.

One tweeter reminded the prime minister of his infamous drawings of a bomb to illustrate Iran’s nuclear threat.

https://twitter.com/eddie1971nyc/status/730464606293008384

Some called for a more productive chat.

https://twitter.com/eddie1971nyc/status/730431395441577984

https://twitter.com/UNforeign_world/status/730461919258259456

https://twitter.com/Slaveofyah/status/730448182170161152

While still unclear how the responsible PR team had not considered the very likely risk that the Q&A might not go to plan, it is hard to imagine that the risk of such trolling wouldn’t come up.

With a growing BDS movement, combined with the disproportionate responses to it by Israeli leaders, offering the world such an easy punch seems nonsensical.

Unless it was a way for Israel’s $26 million cyber fighting team to weed out those who wish to speak out about Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Some people are already predicting accusations of anti-Semitism.

https://twitter.com/eddie1971nyc/status/730457771213242368

https://www.rt.com/viral/342713-ask-netanyahu-campaign-backfires/

3 thoughts on “Risky move: #AskNetanyahu quickly backfires for Israeli PM”

  3. Since Netanyahu is a psychopath, does anyone really think he gives a crap? And does anyone really think (since he likely had screeners) he actually saw any of these tweets?

    Reply

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