Boaz Bismuth, who has served as the editor-in-chief since 2017, has found himself increasingly at odds with the Israel Hayom’s revised support of Netanyahu and embrace of Bennett’s premiership
Editor-in-chief of Israel Hayom Boaz Bismuth is leaving his role after almost five years, a spokesman for the daily said on Monday.
Israel Hayom, established as a free newspaper by tycoon Sheldon Adelson in 2007, swiftly became Israel’s most read paper and played a key role in the Netanyahu’s ascent. Edelson’s wife, Miriam, has taken over the reins of her late husband’s business empire, including Israel Hayom.
In recent years, the newspaper has shifted its editorial line from only supporting Benjamin Netanyahu, to an increasingly favorable stance toward Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, said people with knowledge of the paper’s affairs.
The shift has been noticed by several right-wing politicians and commentators.
Yinon Magal, for example, who is in the midst of a campaign to raise funds for Netanyahu’s legal expenses, tweeted over the weekend that in light of Bennett’s round of interviews in all the major newspapers: “When we said the role of the media is to criticize the government, we meant to criticize the government … for the purpose of a blitz of flattering stories.” Magal attached to his tweet a series of pictures from the front pages of the newspapers that published the interviews with Bennett – including the front page of Israel Hayom’s political magazine.
Yair Netanyahu, the son of the former prime minister, has also attacked Israel Hayom on several occasions, claiming the newspaper has turned into a “propaganda tool for Bennett.”
Amos Regev, the editor-in-chief of Israel Hayom from 2007 through 2017, was fired after disagreements between him and Netanyahu’s office. For example, Regev refused a request from Netanyahu’s former spokesman Ran Baratz to send a different journalist – and not Shlomo Cesana, the paper’s diplomatic correspondent – on a flight with Netanyahu, after Cesana criticized Netanyahu. Israel Hayom also significantly cut back on the number of pictures it ran of Sara Netanyahu during Regev’s tenure, a step that signaled an greater editorial independence than in the past.
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Omer Lachmanovitch, the editor of the paper’s political magazine, will be the acting editor-in-chief.
Bismuth, who was appointed in 2017 to replace Amos Regev, penned a farewell piece on Monday, stating he had reached a point of “exhaustion” and is preparing to “face new challenges.”
Over the past few years, Bismuth participated in the panel of the “Ulpan Shishi” television program on Friday nights on Channel 12 News. The channel is expected to launch a new show hosted by Bismuth and journalist Ben Caspit.
@Sebatstian the article says the following.
Glick’s article’s are published at Israel Hayom but I do not believe she is an editor there (she is a Senior Writer per title)
She writes for Israel Hayom, Breitbart News, The Jerusalem Post, and Maariv and latest Newsweek.
@SEBASTIEN-
If Bennett and Shaked split up that would be the news of the year. If one is trying to form a new Right Wing group it may be Bennett, because Shaked would likely be very welcome in LIKUD, and Bennett wouldn’t -although his support would.. Of course we poor sinners don’t know what tzimmis is going on inside the Coalition with Lapid looming closer, and the Arab MKs are showing their true colours more and more. The Bennett “led” Govt, could fall to pieces any time, although they all love their ministries and other goodies so much. .
It’ll be interesting to watch how it plays out.
P.s. Every time I see Boaz’s name I think back to my boss so many years ago when I was doing Law. He always carried a tin box of Bismuth tabs with him and needed them.
@Stephen
Several months ago there was a big to do in Arutz about Sara Netanyahu complaining that Adelson’s Israel Hayom didn’t give her nicer photos etc. Miriam Adelson made a nasty response. It seemed to expand, and then next thing was a report that Mrs. Adelson said how hateful Sara was etc.etc. It died down.
Until, now, since Adelson passed away some weeks ago his wife is in full control of all his interests including the paper. SHE IS IN CHARGE..
When women fall out it always shows to be far worse than men.
Why did Adelson move from B to B?
Caroline Glick is senior editor. Will she stay there, I wonder. She also writes for Newsweek, and has articles and podcasts on her own free web page, as I am sure you are aware. I’m not sure where else she publishes. She actually ran on the Yamina ticket but is pro-Bibi and anti-Bennett, now. I recently read that Bennett and Shaked might split up and one of them has been rumored to be trying to organize a new right bloc, I forget which or if it’s both.