She Who Must Be Obeyed: The Media and Political Spouses in Israel

The article examines the Israeli media's treatment of politicians' wives during the late 1990s, when it abandoned its long-held custom of ignoring them. By examining the language and narrative strategies employed, the author demonstrates the crucial role the media is playing in formulating, framing, and disseminating the debate on Israeli national identity in general, and gender identity in particular, as the state is entering its post-foundational phase.