Parties release slew of new campaign ads

This is certainly the election of viral videos.

From Naftali Bennett’s “Stop apologizing” video to Meretz’s horribly awkward wedding clip and Netanyahu’s kindergarten commercial, which the Central Election Committee Chairman Salim Jubran deemed in violation of Israeli election law.

The YouTube campaigns continue this week with Likud, the Zionist Union, Yesh Atid and the Jewish Home releasing videos they hope will gain traction with the public.

Yesh Atid released a three-hour video that goes through — in great detail — the party’s achievements in the past year and eight months. The movie, which Yesh Atid calls the “anti-viral video,” includes an artist painting an entire wall-sized mural in the background while a presenter discusses new apartment buildings, stumbles through the new law that requires Haredis to enlist in the army and asks for water.

Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett released a video in a style that is likely familiar to most college students. Bennett stands in front of a white board, marker in hand, and attempts to explain how setting a standard price for certain goods would not actually lower the cost of living in Israel. Bennett quickly explains that competition drives prices down without government intervention and that companies with items under government regulation are able to game the system and artificially increase prices. At no point in time does Bennett use the white board behind him or the marker he holds in his hand.

The Zionist Union, in an attempt to capitalize on the latest box office hit “Fifty Shades of Grey”, tried something flashier than the Jewish Home’s academic explanation and came out with the overly dramatic “Fifty Shades of Black,” which goes through what the party sees as Netanyahu’s failures as prime minister. “Black for the starving elderly!” a deep, threatening voice says. “Black for the residents of the South that live in bomb shelters! Black for small business owners! The Netanyahu administration presents: 50 Shades of Black.”

But the deep, now-reassuring voice tells us, “The Zionist Union presents: 50 Shades of Hope.”

Last week, Netanyahu responded to his recent string of scandals with a video featuring a neurotic aide running into his office to update him on the latest fictitious affair. “Mr. Prime Minister, sir, there’s a new scandal: Netanyahu and the snails in the garden!”

This is followed by other fictitious stories related to undernourished goldfish — “But I’m feeding them,” says the PM, as he drops feed into the goldfish bowl on his desk — a noisy air-conditioner, a wobbly chair, an unanswered phone call, a popsicle that dripped on a couch, and a sound “boom” in the frame (which hits the aide on the head).

Eventually, the prime minister addresses his audience while seated at his desk, accusing his critics of trying to distract voters from more important matters.