Saar Szekely, the most radical left winger to appear on Israeli Big Brother – and probably on any Israeli reality show – has made it to the final, despite the early forecasts he wouldn’t last long
OK, I admit it: I watch Big Brother. In fact, I even enjoy it at times. I think the reason I do enjoy it is that Big Brother really epitomizes what reality TV is about. Compared to all the other dozens of reality shows, there seems to be something a tad more “real” to Big Brother. But then again, who knows – they might all be on pills, as Ori J. Lenkinski wrote last week.
Last night’s episode wasn’t that great, except for one thing. Two of the remaining seven participants secured their spot in the final (which will include five people). One of them, Tamir Vardi, is a favorite to win the whole thing. To try and describe Tamir is difficult. Suffice to say, he’s a bit on the kooky side.
The other contestant, Saar Szekely, is what most people in Israel call a radical left winger. In other words, a traitor. Szekely came into the house with a very clear agenda: to talk about the occupation. He also had beef with corporate capitalism and reality TV, and he made it clear to the production who interviewed him as well. But the producers of Keshet played along. It wasn’t the first time they played the political card.
But Saar was definitely the most radical left winger Keshet brought in so far to the show, which enjoys a whopping 40 percent rating average this season. Which made most people think he wasn’t going to last too long. Especially not in the current political climate in Israel. Other left wingers that came with an agenda like Saar didn’t make it far in earlier seasons.
After the first episode was aired, Facebook pages calling for the expulsion of Sa’ar “the traitor” or “the terrorist” from the show started popping up. Inside, Saar was constantly attacked for his views.
But it didn’t work. Not inside the house, nor outside. Inside the house, everyone was falling in love with him. Even the right wingers were finding it difficult to have a debate with him. He was just too convincing. And too nice. He rarely got into a fight. He was always the responsible adult. He was funny, caring, and warm and supportive when needed.
Outside, the left was getting all dreamy eyed over this chiselled, articulate young man. “Finally, a good-looking leftist who knows what to say! Where do we vote for this guy?”
Here’s an example of Saar’s debating skills, from somewhere in the middle of the season (source: Eran Vered):
I doubt he’ll win the whole thing. Tamir is probably going to take it.
What’s going to be interesting is to see what Saar does with his 15 minutes of fame after this whole thing is over in two weeks.
(Video subtitles: Yaniv Eidelstein)
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Sheikh Jarrah
Very interesting. Thank you for this post, Ami.
Steve
Maybe after the show ends he can work for Hamas and perhaps help coordinate terrorist attacks against Israel
suzanne sapir
I’ve been a fan of Saar from the beginning. He is an honest, sensitive rational young man.
To me, he is a role model.
Les Legato
If he’s your “role model”, like him you have a short and unhappy life in front of you.
Hope you enjoy the jihad-gang he’s bringing you to.
Erez
Unfortunately this is a wrong analysis. The other tenants didn’t fall in love with Saar because he was convincing, they did so simply because he is an extremely charming person who has a great apparent love for other people.
Ami Kaufman
@erez – I’d be interested in you showing me how I didn’t say exactly what you just wrote.
.
Or, please show me the exact sentence where i said they fell in love with him because he was convincing.
.
Whatever is easier for you.
Ami Kaufman
Also, please don’t call this is an “analysis”. Let’s remember, it’s a reality show.
Tal
Indeed, Saar is an amazing human being. He has the talent, charisma and love for humanity to win even the hearts of right wing Israelis and right now they are the vast majority.
noam
steve, you’re a buffoon.
Eli Bernholz
”The mother who sends her son to be a suicide bomber, in her view….(interuption)…Allahs not tangible(conversation diverted to checkpoints)” Anyone care to elaborate on this point?
Leen
Well he could have made a persuasive argument by saying that that mother is dead.
Richard
He is an Israeli with brains and balls.
David
Saar is a pathetic, naive leftist too dumb to realize he’s a “useful idiot” for the Arabs. If they had their way they’d destroy Israel in stages: Judea & Samaria today, Jerusalem tomorrow, the Tel Aviv beach the day after. When they’re done using the duped leftist Jews, they’d kill them off too.
James
Comment deleted for call to violence
VK
And to add to David’s comment – I wonder when the oh-so-liberal Jews in Israel and abroad will realize that this is exactly what most of the Palestinian leadership’s interest is – the WHOLE of “Palestine” and no less.
When Abbas, our so-called peace partner is greeting the terrorists that were released as part of the Shalit deal in a festive ceremony of honor there is nothing else to say to our leftist bohemians, but: Wake Up!
AD
Thank you Noam, you beat me to it. Steve: STFU. @ VK: Yup, despair breeds terrorism. Please show me how normal politics have worked here.
adam joseph
Wonderful to see both sides of an argument.
Not so good to see some of the comments on here…With these sorts of people, Israel is doomed. Such a pity!
Robert Corra
I agree with Adam. After reading the ‘comments’ section on many sites I do fear for Isreal’s future. Its obvious that a great percentage of Jews enjoy degrading the Palestinian people. The country has lost its moral and human fibre and in doing so has lost one of the major reasons for its continued existance.
Ami
This has got to be the most interesting Big Brother I have ever seen! Where can I watch more?
bob
plz send can anyone send this vid to utube thanks
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