Israelis Say Goodbye to Their Favorite News Anchor, But You Don’t Have To
News anchor Chaim Yavin is known as the “Walter Cronkite” of Israel. So beloved and respected is he in Israeli society, he’s probably one of the few media personalities who could have made The Land of the Settlers, his controversial five-part series on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yavin was able to convince both Israeli settlers and Palestinians living in the West Bank to welcome him into their homes and talk frankly about their perspectives on the disputed territories, and about each other.
But the series also shattered Yavin’s universal appeal. His perspective is, ultimately, “If we want peace, we have to dismantle the settlements.” Accordingly, The Land of the Settlers turned him from “everyone’s man” into a man for “the Left.” And it threatened his career. Yet he endured and was able to go on as news anchor for Channel 1, even after the series made its controversial splash in 2003, igniting anger and indignation on both sides of the debate.
Until now. Yavin, 74, also known as “Mr. Television,” just retired (note link is to Jewish Press blog which clearly doesn’t have anything nice to say about the liberal Yavin), after anchoring his last news broadcast in a 40-year career. Israelis may miss their most recognized newsman, but TJC subscribers can still see the now-controversial figure in his ground-breaking The Land of the Settlers at the touch of a button.
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