WATCH: The new, fresh and inspiring politics of Merav Michaeli

Ami Kaufman By Ami Kaufman March 6, 2013 | Edit

I was never a big fan of Merav Michaeli during her showbiz career. But I have to admit: over the past two years, since her writing in Haaretz and political career began – I’ve been hooked.

Now, as a newly elected Labor MK, she has the chance to live up to the high expectations many have of her. Yair Lapid, who promised his voters “new politics” but instead gave them cooperation with Naftali Bennett’s right-wing Jewish Home party, could learn a bit about the real change that is needed in this place from Michaeli’s inaugural speech in the Knesset last week.

As opposed to 2009, and with a somewhat reality show kind of feel, the post-election inaugural speeches by the new MKs have been all over social media – as if we’re being presented with the new contestants of this season.

For me, out of all these speeches, Michaeli’s stood out clearly. She addresses in 10 minutes some of the major ills of Israeli society (the “victim” syndrome, the security budget, exclusion of women and more), and also manages to mock the “sharing the burden” farce that Lapid has put at the top of his political agenda.

I’m not a Labor supporter, but if Michaeli proves to be as good a lawmaker as she is a speaker and writer, and if she happens to change her sick, old and irrelevant party from within – I’ll be one happy camper.

Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman was chief night editor for Haaretz, for the prominent Israeli financial daily Calcalist, and correspondent on Israeli affairs for 93.6 RAM FM, a joint Palestinian-Israel radio station. His interest in food and cooking led to culinary studies at the "Israeli CIA" (Tadmor, Herzliya) and a brief stint in the restaurant business. Born in Tel Aviv, Ami lives in Bat Yam with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he blogs at Half & Half.

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