No, Urich - English is not the definition of leadership in Israel - opinion

Gadi Eisenkot, born in Tiberias to Moroccan immigrants, rose through the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces to become chief of staff in 2015. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, born in Tel Aviv, spent formative years in the U.S., studied at MIT, and worked in the private sector before returning to Israel. Both men have accomplished careers, yet their life stories differ significantly, particularly in their exposure to English.

This difference in English fluency, a natural outcome of their distinct life paths, has become a point of contention. Yonatan Urich, a senior campaign strategist for Netanyahu and an individual under investigation in the Qatargate affair, recently took to social media to mock Eisenkot's English. Urich reposted a video of Eisenkot speaking at the Washington Institute, derisively calling him "Mr. Hasbara." The clear intent was to portray Eisenkot as unqualified for national leadership due to his less fluent English compared to Netanyahu.

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Mr. Hasbara

Earlier in the week, after Eisenkot challenged Netanyahu to a debate, Urich responded with another sneering remark: "Are you prepared to do it in English?" The article highlights the absurdity of this proposition, emphasizing that any debate for leadership of Israel should naturally take place in Hebrew, as the candidates are running to lead the Israeli public.

Urich's underlying message suggests that weaker English proficiency equates to weaker leadership. While acknowledging that English is important and can aid in diplomatic meetings, the article questions whether it truly determines a leader's ability to unite Israeli society or understand the nation's security threats. The author argues that such a focus distracts from more critical leadership qualities.

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Are you prepared to do it in English?