Racism exists everywhere. In every country.
And as we all know, it exists here in Israel, in abundance.
I don’t have the tools to measure racism and compare, or to say that Israel is more racist than this country or that one.
But I do believe that the reports we’ve read in the media over the past few years, and focused on here on +972, show the sad state the country is in.
And I’ve always felt that racist language is used much more freely here. It seems easier to use derogatory terms in everyday language, in living room discussions, at dinner parties.
And in reality shows.
One of the most popular reality shows on Israeli TV these days is a show called “Meusharot” (a word play on “happy”, spelled as if it means “rich” – yet sounds exactly the same). The show follows the lives of 6 uber-rich Israeli women.
A lot of it is staged, it’s easy to see – but there’s still a lot of reality in it. In the scene I’ve translated below, two of the show’s stars – Nicole Raidman and Inbar Shenhav – are quarelling. Raidman is a young woman in her 20s married to an anonymous Russian oligarch. She’s now in to event planning, and is trying to bring Lady Gaga to Israel.
Shenhav, the daughter of Prof. Yehuda Shenhav (one of Israel’s most famous one-staters) is a family law lawyer who, as opposed to Raidman, worked a bit harder to get to where she is.
In this scene, Raidman has invited some of the women over to dinner, and one of the gifts she receives sparks a furor.
Nicole Raidman isn’t your typical Israeli. Also, Shenhav’s response isn’t your typical response, either.
And I’ll say again, I have no proof that Israel is more racist than another country (does it matter?)
But I will say this: What Raidman said is what a majority of Israelis think. I say that with a certainty of one who lives among those people who say these kinds of things on a daily basis. I hear it constantly.
This is the kind of racism that is so easily dished out in Israel.
For a majority of Israelis, it’s just not a big deal. For them, Raidman hit it right on the nail.