Scene #1: We watch Air Force One fly to Israel, the only blue country in a mass of brown countries — which is how maps work, by the way.
Scene #2: The plane has landed, safely, and now Obama and Netanyahu, with comically sized heads, stand on a podium exchanging pleasantries. Diplomacy! Politics! Obama reinforces America’s commitment to Israel, Netanyahu flashes a stupid grin and the video starts to feel a bit creepy. Then a close-up of the two leaders shaking hands, with Netanyahu’s looking a bit geriatric.
Scene #3: A picture of the handshake immediately ends up on a newspaper cover with the headline, “Bibi, Obama: US-Israel Relations STRONGER THAN EVER But What’s Up Behind the Scenes??” Obviously, headlines these days are written by young girls texting their BFFs.
What were the makers of this video thinking? Was it supposed to be campy? Ironic? Is there some sort of subversive message? The Israeli Embassy says this is the Israeli perspective on the U.S.-Israel alliance. Either way, enjoy!
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
