Before you watch this campaign ad in order to fully appreciate the puns and references you first need to understand the following:
- “lightning never strikes twice” refers to left-wing Ehud Barak a former-PM of Israel
- Barak means lightning in Hebrew
- “boogie” is Moshe Yaalon a Former Defense Minister of Israel
- The jellyfish are Hamas.
Netanyahu […] acts the role of a lifeguard who is “ready for every scenario” and is able to hit back tennis and racket balls common on Israeli beaches, while telling his audience that “in the stormy waters of the Middle East, it’s vital that Israel be an island of stability.”
jpost.com/Israel-News/Netanyahu-takes-position-of-life-guard-at-new-election-video-598575
The video isn’t lacking in laughs. When the people he meets complain about the jellyfish, he seems surprised and says: “Liberman promised to take them out 48 hours ago,” A jab at the former defense minister who boasted then that he will have Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in 48 hours unless he complies with Israeli demands. He did not comply, and Liberman never followed through on his threat.
Blue and White also did not remain unscathed as Netanyahu, using a megaphone, instructs people surfing on a boogie board that they are “on the Left” and they need to return “to the Right – it is much, much safer!” The jab is towards Blue and White member Moshe Ya’alon who is nick-named “Bogie.”
Both Liberman and Ya’alon served as defense ministers under Netanyahu, who has recently become the longest serving leader in modern Israel’s history, passing David Ben-Gurion in July.
Here are two more of Netanyahu’s campaign videos.