Another left wing journalist has thrown his hat in the political ring, with Haaretz correspondent Daniel Ben Simon following the lead three years ago of Knesset Member Shelly Yechimovich (Labor), who worked for years as a Voice of Israel government radio reporter.
She recently stated that she is proud that journalists used their positions in the media to influence Israel government policies, including the withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. The retreat left a vacuum of power that gave Hizbullah a free hand to build up its military in southern Lebanon and wage the Second Lebanon War against Israel two summers ago.
Ben Simon, a member of Labor, wrote in his parting article for the newspaper that he "entered journalism to help shape Israeli society." He added, "I used any available platform to warn of the increasing inequality and loss of solidarity."