Israel surpasses US in number of election queries put on YouTube

Largest number of videos, some 30%, were general or personal questions about the candidates.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: OCTOBER 25, 2017 17:41
YOUTUBE88 (photo credit: )
YOUTUBE88
(photo credit: )
More than 250 questions have been submitted on-line to Israel's prime-ministerial candidates on YouTube's election Web site, surpassing the number American candidates were asked on the site ahead of the US election in November.
The public was invited to submit video questions to Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, Kadima head Tzipi Livni and Labor chairman Ehud Barak on the site.
Voting is currently taking place for the best questions, 15 of which will be broadcast on Channel 2 and answered directly by the candidates. The people who asked the questions will be invited to the studio to take part in interviewing the candidates.
Despite the voting taking place during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip and an international financial crisis, the largest number of videos, some 30 percent, were general or personal questions about the candidates. Only 17% dealt with borders, 16% with the personal safety of the citizens, and 10% with the economy.
The questions on the site included one by Israeli rap star Subliminal about whether the candidates would change the electoral system, and another from a Russian immigrant asking Livni why she did not support legislation that would have allowed him to get married in Israel.
YouTube conducted a similar project together with CNN ahead of the US race and has run other projects like it around the world. The YouTube voting platform was developed by Google's research and development center in Tel Aviv.
The voting for the best videos will end on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time.