Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., December 04, 2008 Kislev 7, 5769 | | Israel Time: 23:51 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

His wife is to blame By Avirama Golan Tags: Women, Eliot Spitzer  The debate over Benjamin Netanyahu's wasteful spending once again takes on a gossipy character aimed at a single target: his wife. In the standard gossip fantasy, which relies on "sources in the know," Sara Netanyahu comes across as a problematic wife who entices her husband to commit an offense. What haven't the commentators said about the relationship between these two: She made him sign a secret contract, she's throwing him out of the house, she's threatening him, whereas he, the strong, tough politician, is held captive, poor thing, in her hands, and cannot break free of her hold. It's such an easy way to evade the real issue: The voracious greed of Benjamin Netanyahu in particular, and the publicly insensitive hedonism of the political elite in general. Netanyahu may expose his greed in public and noisily, whereas his colleagues make fortunes, buy up prestigious real estate, wine and dine and smoke expensive cigars with disingenuous politeness. But he, the public figure who presumes to return to power, is responsible for his actions and deserves to be criticized. Not his wife. Certainly not their relationship. The pretext that she supposedly "interferes in politics" is ridiculous. Advertisement Sara Netanyahu is not alone. As the democratic leadership increasingly makes way for a new PR monarchy, and as the gallery of leaders dwindles, the gossipy interest in the women attached to politicians grows stronger. Preoccupation (in Israel) with Eliot Spitzer's resignation as governor of New York focused hungrily on the woman who collected a fortune for the sexual services, and on the fat contract she'll land for some advertising campaign. They forgot to deal with the main point: Spitzer's hypocrisy, the puritanical American self-righteousness, and the worsening disconnect between the Democratic Party, which presumes to care more than its conservative rival about citizens' welfare, and the voters. From that whole wretched affair, there remain two photos - the one of the young "temptress" in a bikini, and the one of the legal wife, who as usual stood on stage and "supported her husband" like one compelled in the name of the trampled value of "keeping the family together." Pictures and discussion on a similar level, and in no less poor taste, remain from the first year of the Sarkozy regime in France. The frenetic president, who promised sweeping reforms and formed a fascinating government, focused on flashy trips, a divorce crisis, and the shallow pronouncement that his relationship with Carla Bruni "is serious." The French press is cooperating, endlessly chewing over comparisons between Bruni and Cecilia, the previous wife, and trying to work out their influence on the president - all at a time of crisis in the education and health systems, technology lagging terribly behind the global market, and helplessness in dealing with racism and neglect in suburbs populated by immigrants. Meanwhile, the listless left won the municipal elections, and still Bruni's rounding belly gets photographed a lot more - as one of the excuses for the president's drop in the polls. In the transition from the Dark Ages to the Enlightenment, men were frightened by the confusion and discovered a remedy: the witch hunt. At the dawn of the 21st century, women are not burned or drowned to see if they sinned. Instead of concentrating on the real problems, women are burned at the media stake. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Settler rampage Video shows settler shooting Palestinian in the stomach from point-blank range. Living side by side An historic Chicago synagogue neighbors Barack Obama's house.   1.   Women in the Israeli MEDIA 10:03  |  Claire 25/03/08   2.   Grunting at the trough 10:15  |  Clickfool 25/03/08   3.   A RELATION OF DOOM 10:28  |  indrajaya 25/03/08   4.   ????? "whats new pussycat" read up your history 10:38  |  v ictor hardman 25/03/08   5.   The new Governor of NY has already come clean 11:23  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   6.   Aw, come now Avirama... 11:26  |  Esther 25/03/08   7.   Comparing bibi`s wife to a prostitue 11:28  |  James 25/03/08   8.   SO SAD THAT HAARETZ HAS NOW BECOME PART OF THE GUTTERSNIPE MEDIA 11:30  |  Miriam Ashkelon 25/03/08   9.   What about...? 11:33  |  American Christian 25/03/08   10.   INDRAJAYA Jelous.Indonesian hookers only get a fraction of $1000/ 11:37  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   11.   The media stake..bewitching the public. 11:41  |  Stephen. 25/03/08   12.   The "Alleged" Voracious Greed: Failed Journalism 101 12:02  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 25/03/08   13.   Clickfool: If Libel Charge is Awarded, Will You Retract? 12:06  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 25/03/08   14.   # 10, PETER SM 12:09  |  indrajaya 25/03/08   15.   No dignity 12:31  |  sweis Melbourne 25/03/08   16.   clicking fool 12:34  |  sweis Melbourne 25/03/08   17.   FEEDING frenzy V`s the facts on Netanyahu`s trip. by I. Liebler 12:39  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   18.   For Ovadiah ben Avraham # 12 12:39  |  Clickfool 25/03/08   19.   OVADIAH that fool never retracts." Mossad kidnapped Johnstone"? 12:46  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   20.   It`s all Eve`s fault! 12:51  |  Maureen Ann 25/03/08   21.   INDRAJAYA it is more honest to be a hooker than a corruptofficial 12:52  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   22.   # 2 Click Fool from Sussex moralizing and lecturing Jews........ 13:02  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 25/03/08   23.   Claire the main problem is the lies the Pals tell 13:03  |  Jasmine Murphy 25/03/08   24.   # 20, PETER SM 13:07  |  indrajaya 25/03/08   25.   Understandable that Sarah is without polish 13:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 25/03/08   26.   For Max Zinger, with an astonishing new theory # 21 13:32  |  Clickfool 25/03/08   27.   PUBLIC PREFERS PERSONAL GOSSIP, ALWAYS HAS. 13:33  |  petra 25/03/08   28.   The difference being of course 13:38  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/03/08   29.   Who is greedy? 13:46  |  Frank 25/03/08   30.   IS HE? 13:48  |  indrajaya 25/03/08   31.   TO CLI CKFOOL 14:21  |  Nicole 25/03/08   32.   #16 PETER SM 14:31  |  Malka Leifer 25/03/08   33.   So that is why France is interested in Israel 14:44  |  David Hoffman 25/03/08   34.   The big joke over here is that 15:39  |  American in NY 25/03/08   35.   It must be an anti-Semitic plot 15:42  |  American in NY 25/03/08   36.   Politicians` Wives....... 16:30  |  Dagma 25/03/08   37.   Media hates Bibi `cos he is against giving our land to enemy 18:14  |  Oiy VaVoiy 25/03/08   38.   Linthwaite doesnt understand the difference between wife & whore 18:35  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 25/03/08   39.   Steven #11 18:35  |  Esther 25/03/08   40.   Indra, your jealousy is showing 18:56  |  Miss Piggy 25/03/08   41.   to the Click 18:59  |  Davka 25/03/08   42.   # 40, MISS PIGGY 19:04  |  indrajaya 25/03/08   43.   #39 Esther. He has money allright. 19:24  |  Stephen. 25/03/08   44.   For Davka # 41 19:55  |  Clickfool 25/03/08   45.   Fake Indra #42 20:01  |  Miss Piggy 25/03/08   46.   # 42 Indy. The word "dude" will be banished. 20:11  |  Stephen. 25/03/08   47.   INDRAJAYA.100 Israeli Commandos killed.? Really? 20:15  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   48.   #38 Margie 20:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/03/08   49.   AMERICAN In NY.Who is saying anti semitic here besides you? 21:12  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   50.   M LEIFER.The article quotes the people involved with the costs. 21:35  |  PETER SM 25/03/08   51.   #1 21:43  |  Ethel 25/03/08   52.   Max Zinger Just a footnote for you and clikputz 22:55  |  Robert/Montreal 25/03/08   53.   Women 00:45  |  Sabra 26/03/08   54.   Haaretz journo`s and their santimonious pecksniffians 02:07  |  YSL 26/03/08   55.   What Media Trash-You should be sued 03:07  |  I.M.knotfooled 26/03/08   56.   The Big Difference 04:19  |  Mark Lincoln 26/03/08   57.   I think this story is actually based on something earlier 05:11  |  natan 26/03/08   58.   #21, Peter SM...for once, I agree with you... 06:46  |  Silvienne 26/03/08   59.   #22, Max Zinger: Is any of your post actually relevant? 06:47  |  Silvienne 26/03/08   60.   I Am Amazed Clickfool. All These Rants From A Chap 06:56  |  Eli 26/03/08   61.   If you can`t get Netanyahu,get his wife instead 07:11  |  YSl 26/03/08   62.   M.LINCOLN"Bibi bought what he did with Israel`s money" 07:25  |  PETER SM 26/03/08   63.   Re: #2 - Grunting at the trough 07:42  |  PlanoStu 26/03/08   64.   Re: #2 - Clickfool - 2nd attempt 08:09  |  PlanoStu 26/03/08   65.   To Claie # 1 - FIRST Things FIRST..... 08:27  |  Dolly 26/03/08   66.   Collateral damage and Spitzer`s women 16:33  |  DJStahl 26/03/08   67.   Don`t take seriously something that`s poked at you in fun 19:54  |  Harold 04/12/08

Read & React Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade Responses: 128 Settlers rampage in Palestinian areas after Hebron eviction Responses: 151 Editorial: Jewish terrorists are holding hostage Israel's future Responses: 50 Ari Shavit: Pakistan is as dangerous as Iran Responses: 27 Shlomo Avineri: The State of Israel as the kingdom of evil Responses: 16 More Headlines 23:12 IDF declares Hebron area closed military zone after settler rampage 23:27 Abbas aide: Settler attacks could scupper peace process 21:23 IN PICTURES / The evacuation of 'House of Contention' in Hebron 17:39 State Prosecutor closes Bank Leumi probe against Olmert 21:32 UN forum: Israel systematically violating Palestinian human rights 16:05 Report: Syria won't renew peace talks until Israel clarifies Golan plans 07:50 At synagogue overlooking Obama's house, blacks and Jews live side by side 22:55 High voter turnout for Labor's second primary this week 22:11 Top rightist MKs won`t head new national-religious party Habayit Hayehudi 20:36 Mumbai Jewish community on edge after attacks in India 17:28 WATCH: Will Bar Refaeli be the next James Bond girl? 19:39 Ex-N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer debuts as columnist for online magazine 'Slate' 07:43 Footage released of Palestinian militant reenacting murder of Israeli lawmaker 22:42 German court rejects compensation claim for grandson of anti-Hitler plotter 22:46 Gaza militants fire mortar, Qassam at western Negev; no casualties Previous Editions Select Day 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov

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