Boaz Bismuth

Boaz Bismuth
בועז ביסמוט‎
Boaz Bismuth in 2023
Faction represented in the Knesset
2022–Likud
Personal details
Born (1964-11-25) November 25, 1964 (age 60)
Rehovot, Israel
Alma materBar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan
OccupationJournalist, columnist and politician

Boaz Bismuth (Hebrew pronunciation: [bismut], born 25 November 1964[1]) is a member of the Israeli Knesset, a journalist and columnist who served as editor-in-chief of Israel Hayom between April 2017 and January 2022, and Israeli Ambassador to Mauritania between 2004 and 2008.

Biography

Bismuth was born in Rehovot to Tunisian Jews, he studied in a Catholic elementary school in Jaffa, and in a high school owned by the Church of Scotland. Bismuth began his journalistic career in 1983, as a sports correspondent for Maariv[2] until 1988, when he became its correspondent in Paris.[3] Bismuth also taught journalism at the Moshe Sharret School in Paris.[citation needed]

During his journalistic career, Bismuth acquired a Bachelor's Degree in political science from Bar-Ilan University in 1984, and a Master's Degree from Sorbonne University in 1988.[2] Additionally, he acquired a degree in African studies,[4] specializing in cooperation with African countries in 1990.[citation needed] He also studied at the Centre d'Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques.[5]

In 1990, Bismuth began to work for Yedioth Ahronoth,[2] and was its correspondent in Paris between 1990 and 2004,[6] using his French passport to enter countries otherwise closed to Israeli nationals.[citation needed]

During this period, Bismuth reported from several Arab countries.[citation needed] In April 2004, Bismuth was appointed Israeli Ambassador to Mauritania[7] by Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom, where he served between July 2004 and August 2008. During his tenure, Mauritania underwent several coups, and in 2008 the Israeli Embassy in Nouakchott was attacked by Al-Qaeda,[8] who stated that Bismuth was the target of the attack.[citation needed]

From 2008 to April 2017, Bismuth served as the foreign affairs editor and correspondent for Israel Hayom,[9] where on 30 April 2017 he replaced Amos Regev as the editor-in-chief.[10] In 2020 he became a commentator for HaHadashot 12,[3] and in January 2022 he was removed from his position as editor-in-chief.[11][12] On 25 July 2022, Bismuth announced that he would seek election to the Knesset as a member of the Likud, participating in Party list primaries to be held by the party ahead of an upcoming legislative election.[13] Bismuth won the 19th spot on the party's electoral list,[14] and was elected as it won 32 seats in the election.[15]

Positions

On October 16, 2023, during the Israel–Hamas war Bismuth wrote on X (translated):

"It must not be forgotten that even the "innocent citizens" - the cruel and monstrous people from Gaza took an active part in the pogrom in the Israeli settlements, in the systematic murder of Jews and the shedding of their blood, in the kidnapping of children, old people, and mothers, and in tying up babies and burning them alive! One mustn't pity the cruel, there is no place for any humanitarian gesture - the memory of Amalek must be erased!"[16]

At the end of December 2023, South Africa brought charges of "genocide" against Israel before the International Court of Justice. In the 84-page application[16], Bismuth's statement, among other ones, is seen as alleged evidence of Israeli "genocidal intentions against the Palestinian people".[16]

Personal life

Bismuth is married to his third wife, Ruth, a formerly-Catholic convert to Judaism from France. He has four children and resides in Tel Aviv.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Members of the 25th Knesset". www.knesset.gov.il. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  2. ^ a b c d Kitain, Yonatan (2017-08-10). ""אני עורך 'ישראל היום', לא איש יחסי הציבור של נתניהו"". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  3. ^ a b "N12 – רשמית: בועז ביסמוט יתמודד בפריימריז בליכוד". N12. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  4. ^ Veisman, Lilach (2013-12-15). "נתניהו התכוון למנות את פרשן "ישראל היום" בועז ביסמוט ל"פרויקטור להרחקת מסתננים" – ולהעניק לו 200 אלף שקל בונוס אם יסלק 2,500". Globes. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  5. ^ "אחרי עימותים מול לשכת רה"מ: עורך "ישראל היום" עמוס רגב יוחלף על ידי בועז ביסמוט". TheMarker. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  6. ^ "נתניהו רצה למנות את בועז ביסמוט ל"פרויקטור מסתננים"". Haaretz (in Hebrew). 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  7. ^ "מינויים לשירות החוץ | מספר החלטה 1826". GOV.IL (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  8. ^ "מאוריטניה: חמושים ירו לעבר שגרירות ישראל". Ynet (in Hebrew). 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  9. ^ Gaoni, Yael (2008-09-08). "בועז ביסמוט מונה לעורך חדשות החוץ ב"ישראל היום"". Globes. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  10. ^ "זעזוע בישראל היום: עמוס רגב סיים את תפקידו, בועז ביסמוט יחליפו". Maariv. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  11. ^ "בועז ביסמוט, עורך "ישראל היום", עוזב את תפקידו". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  12. ^ "דרמה בישראל היום: בועז ביסמוט הודח מתפקידו – וואלה! ברנז'ה". Walla! (in Hebrew). 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  13. ^ "רשמית: בועז ביסמוט יתמודד בפריימריז בליכוד" [Officially: Boaz Bismuth will run in Likud Primaries]. N12. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  14. ^ "N12 – תוצאות הפריימריז בליכוד: המנצחים, הפנים החדשות ואלה..." N12. 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  15. ^ "התוצאות הסופיות: 32 מנדטים לליכוד, הציונות הדתית עם 14". Kippah (in Hebrew). 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  16. ^ a b אסור לשכוח שגם "האזרחים התמימים"- האכזריים והמפלצתיים מעזה לקחו חלק פעיל בפוגרום בתוך יישובי ישראל, ברצח השיטתי של יהודים ושפיכת דמם, בחטיפת ילדים, קשישים, ואמהות ובכפיתת תינוקות ושריפתם חיים! אסור לרחם על אכזרים, אין מקום לשום מחווה הומניטרית - יש למחות את זכר עמלק! Cited (with mistranslation) in: South Africa's application to the International Court of Justice against Israel for genocide: "Application instituting proceedings", p. 66. Boaz Bismuth's original post in hebrew on X, 16 October 2023.