The Shas faction meeting in the Knesset was 'closed to the media'.
Well, maybe because the members were still excited about the 'on fire' bonding event they attended the day before, along with deputy mayors and other Shas top brass, which they organized for them in the Or HaGenuz settlement.
It's true that not everyone participated, but all those who were absent (Ariel Atias abroad, Yaakov Margi, Meshulam Nahari and Amnon Cohen) made sure to apologize in advance.
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The truth is, an idea. While the media is blabbering about a future split, why not present it with brotherhood alongside scorched flesh? That diverts the fire, and brands Shas as much calmer.
""He won't run alone," one of the Shasniks almost swore in my ear, certain that he knew what Eli Yishai would do. But even when he explained that four seats are needed to pass the threshold, and that the majority of the people don't like the movement being divided, I wasn't convinced. To me, the party celebrating a meat festival resembled a couple going out to a restaurant shortly before a divorce.
""Saying goodbye nicely," they call it.
Sometimes it seems that the top brass don't really read what the commentators write. If they did, they would plan their steps better. Knowing the situation is half the battle.
It seems to me that there is also unwise indifference towards MK Ariel Atias. While many members of the media, especially the secular media, are certain that his departure from the ranks of Shas (abandoning clichés of 'I remain part of Shas') will cause it significant damage, it seems that the top brass in the movement don't really see it that way.
So it's true that Atias is not a field man, perhaps not one who brings in mandates directly, but he plays a significant role in the serious branding of Shas in the media. Who knows how it would have been perceived if he hadn't done some deep digging.
Journalists tell of serious conversations, every once in a while, conversations that are not give-and-take. Indeed, he really does not ask to be written about or to mention his name. On the contrary, he gives tips, analyzes events, situations, becomes a kind of political commentator himself.
His image among journalists is serious, responsible. In short, abandoning him will not do Shas any good.
What did they do to convince him to stay? Did they do enough? Are they doing enough to return Rabbi Amar to the fold of Shas? And are they doing enough to prevent a future split?
Excellent questions. We'll leave them open.
And after the review - here's a kind word:
Quietly, without any 'close' journalists - impressive fieldwork is being carried out. This includes tours and visits by Aryeh Deri to various places in the country, but also continuous and personal daily monitoring by the 'man in charge of the field', Haim Biton.
When he took office, I defined him as 'the right man in the right place.' Time has proven me right. It turns out that the man runs WhatsApp groups for various groups in the field, talks personally with the guys, listens to the problems, solves, helps, is attentive.
Great idea.
Quite a bit of anger was directed this week, including from ultra-Orthodox MKs, towards MK Menachem Eliezer Mozes, who pushed forward a private bill to prevent pickpockets on the eve of local elections. According to the bill, a mayoral candidate must have lived in the area for at least six months before election day.
But behind the scenes, some admit that there is logic in his proposal.
If we try to think about the map of Haredi cities, it turns out that it is not a simple matter.
Take, for example, Bnei Brak. Who will replace Hanoch Seibert in the position? According to the rotation 'once Agudah-once Degel', a member of the Degel Hatorah movement is expected to be elected mayor in the next term. Will MK Yaakov Asher be returned to the position after a term in the Knesset? Or maybe current Deputy Mayor Menachem Shapira will be promoted to the forefront. Or maybe a candidate from another city will even be parachuted in?
Moses' bill requires that all of this be done on time, without the option of dropping in at the last minute. This is very significant when it comes to ultra-Orthodox politics, which is so in love with the "last minute.".
In Modi'in Illit, it is no longer possible to put a finger on the scene, which has long since become a boiling point. Will Yaakov Guterman, the mayor for three terms, be removed from his position? And if so, will Mordechai Goldberg, his deputy who is awaiting approval for the position of paid deputy, be installed in his place, while shuffling through the city courts? Or maybe a candidate will be parachuted in from outside? Yaakov Asher, for example?
Will the Ashkenazi community finally win the mayorship in Beit Shemesh? At least there it is clear that one of two will receive the position - Shmulik Goldberg or Moshe Montag. Both are sharks who have proven themselves.
But in Elad, we can talk about the parachute again. According to the agreement, the candidate for mayor in the next term will be a member of Degel Hatorah. Will the position be awarded to Shmuel Grossberg, who is close to the city's rabbi, the Grand Rabbi of the Torah, Grossman, or will Degel choose to choose its own flesh and blood?
And Beitar Illit - what will happen to it? According to local agreements, it is Degel's turn to be called by the name of the flag. Will you choose Yitzhak Ravitz, the deputy mayor, whose 'son of Shel' is going to be a problem for him with MK Moshe Gafni? Will an alternative candidate be floated?
And what will happen in the Jerusalem municipality? If Mayor Elad Srulik does indeed find himself retired without a leadership position - will Elad remain as a full council member or will he prefer to run for election as an ultra-Orthodox candidate in Jerusalem? And maybe another candidate, like Moshe Leon, will be parachuted into the capital?
All of these questions are still open. What is clear is that in all the scenarios we will draw, on election night the word Moses will be included: "According to the new law that Moses wrote.".
If it does pass the second and third reading.
Just before the presidential candidates' spokespeople and advisors start bombarding email inboxes - some advice.
I came up with them after reading similar advice written a few years ago by journalist Moshe Glasner in the 'Press Line'. His advice referred to publicists (incidentally, he himself recently stepped into the shoes of the spokesman for the Beitar Illit municipality, and is doing so with considerable success, apparently the result of an in-depth study of the collection of advice he wrote at the time).
On the same note, some good advice for speakers on the go:
It's clear that every statement you make in any committee interests the journalist's grandmother. So if you want him to pay attention to it, do one of the following: Make sure he works for the party newspaper of the party to which you belong, in such a newspaper that your every move in and out of the Knesset will be reported with considerable prominence. Alternatively, if that's not the case - make sure that you've devoted enough time to the journalist in the past month, answered his phone calls/gave him briefings/leaked from closed faction meetings - and no, forget about him bothering to copy-paste your news from the email to his personal computer. Clicking 'delete' is easier. Remember this.
Don't rely on your dedicated spokespersons. It's nice that they answer the journalist politely and courteously, but in order for him to be on your side and appreciate you 'for real', you need to be nice, not just the spokesperson. There is no substitute for a personal conversation, preferably over a cup of coffee or at a buffet fork to fork. Take the time to talk about your wonderful character, in your free time and while he is eating anyway, there is a chance that the desired image will be absorbed into his mind.
And don't forget to monitor if you have competitors who are concerned about getting dirty. Because if one meal every once in a while is enough to build an image, to clean up the filth you need at least a series of such meals. The compilers will invite the journalist on a joint tour, so that he can see their true character. So it's true that only the members of your own household know your true character, and yet, there's nothing like a joint trip to bring hearts closer together.
And no, don't hold a press conference and/or a joint faction meeting - even if you personally smile at the journalist you're trying to impress, 'This isn't it.' Better a cup of coffee in your office, than a pile of bureks on the faction table.
Most importantly - remember, in front of the marketing department of the newspaper or website you can buy yourself an advertising square, a maximum of half a page or a page, you will never be able to buy a good word there in an article or column of the journalist. And there is no substitute for that word. So invest. Not money, God forbid, but attitude. And information. And scoops.
