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Irit Linur
Irit Linur
Irit Linur
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Irit Linur (Hebrew: עירית לינור; born 1961) is an Israeli author.

Key Information

Biography

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Irit Linur was married to Alon Ben David, Senior Defense Correspondent for Israel Channel 10 and Middle East Correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly.

Literary career

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Linur started her writing career as a satirical columnist in local newspapers. Her first full-length novel was The Siren's Song, a best-selling romantic comedy set on the background of the Scud missile attacks on Tel Aviv during the Gulf War in 1991. In 1994, the book was adapted into a feature-length film directed by Eytan Fox. The title refers to the air-raid sirens which sounded almost every night during the six weeks of the war. It is the story of an assertive professional woman who experiences emotional growth and romance. At the same time, the book is critical of Tel Aviv's superficial lifestyle.[1]

Linur's second novel, Two Snow Whites, is about a photographer who finds herself involved in a murder case. Sandler Ella, her third novel, depicts the glamorous life of media broadcasters. Her fourth novel, The Brown Girls, was adapted as a popular television mini-series. Linur has also published a book of humorous essays, The Secret Blonde.

Linur is a co-host on the radio show "The Final Word" on Galei Zahal, Israel's Military Radio. The show would initially pair a liberal and a conservative who'd discuss current events, with Linur playing the liberal part. However, in recent years she has expressed views hostile to liberal groups and left-wing politicians in Israel. In 2002, during the Second Intifada, Linur wrote an open letter announcing that she had canceled her subscription to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, criticizing the "radical leftism" and "anti-Zionism" of the newspaper as well as what she referred to as a "pro-Palestinian bias" on the part of Haaretz journalists Gideon Levy and Amira Hass.[2]

In December 2017, Linur was suspended for seven days from her position as a commentator on Army Radio, after she criticized then-President Reuven Rivlin over his support for anti-corruption protests, referring to Rivlin as an "insolent piece of work."[3]

In April 2019, Linur apologized on the air after she and her co-host insinuated that a journalist's wife, a public attorney, was the source behind his news reports concerning PM Netanyahu's investigations.[citation needed]

In May 2019, referring to a protest that featured both Jewish and Muslim speakers, including Israeli Arab politician, MK Ayman Odeh, Linur commented on the air that the protest would have been better off, had Odeh been replaced by two gas station workers as the representatives of the Israeli Arab public.[citation needed]

In February 2022, speaking on the radio show "The Final Word," Linur referred to Reform Judaism as "an esoteric religious fringe movement that is unimportant, nonexistent, unpopular and unaccepted," comparing the Reform movement to Lev Tahor, an extremist Jewish sect.[4] In response, a group of 150 Israel Defense Forces reserve officers, who were members of Reform congregations, sent a letter to then-Defense Minister Benny Gantz demanding Linur's dismissal if she refused to apologize.[5]

References

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Irit Linur

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Irit Linur is an Israeli writer, journalist, and radio host known for her satirical novels, witty social commentary, and long-standing presence in Israeli media. Her work often blends humor with observations on contemporary Israeli life, earning her a reputation as a distinctive voice in literature and broadcasting. Linur co-hosts the daily radio program "The Last Word" on Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), where she provides sharp, right-wing-leaning commentary on current events and has occasionally sparked public debate with her outspoken views on cultural and political issues. She has also contributed to television as a screenwriter and director, notably creating a modern Israeli adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as a six-part miniseries set in the Galilee's high-tech world, emphasizing wit and fun over strict fidelity to the original text. Through her novels, essays, and on-air presence, Linur has established herself as a prominent figure in Israeli cultural and media landscapes.

Early life

Birth and background

Irit Linur was born on October 18, 1961, in Tel Aviv, Israel. She is Israeli and grew up in Tel Aviv, where she spent her formative years immersed in the city's cultural and social environment during a pivotal period in Israeli society. In a personal reflection, Linur described being born into a cultured family, developing critical thinking through education and reading, and participating in Tel Aviv's vibrant social scene, including parties at prominent clubs.

Education and early influences

Irit Linur earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and psychology from Tel Aviv University. She grew up in Tel Aviv, though little public information is available on specific early influences or formative experiences that shaped her interest in satire, literature, or media. After completing her studies, she began her writing career as a satirical columnist in local newspapers.

Literary career

Novels and major publications

Irit Linur is recognized as a pioneer of feminist fiction in Israel, having authored five novels that blend satire, humor, and sharp observations on gender roles, relationships, and contemporary Israeli society. Her works often feature strong female protagonists navigating personal and social challenges, contributing to broader discussions of women's experiences in Israeli literature. Her debut novel, Shirat HaSirena (The Siren Song), published in 1991, is a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the Scud missile attacks on Tel Aviv during the first Gulf War. The story centers on an assertive professional woman who undergoes emotional growth and finds romance amid wartime chaos, while satirizing the superficial lifestyle of Tel Aviv. This work marked her emergence as a distinctive voice in Israeli fiction, combining lighthearted narrative with pointed social critique. Her second novel, Shtei Shlegiot (Two Snow Whites), published in 1993, follows a photographer who becomes entangled in a murder case, exploring themes of intrigue and personal discovery. Her third, Ha-Sandlarit (Sandler Ella), published in 1997, portrays the glamorous yet demanding world of media broadcasters. Her fourth novel, Bnot Brown (The Brown Girls), published in 2002, examines family and community dynamics in a declining agricultural settlement, and was later adapted into a popular television mini-series. Her fifth novel, Geveret Warburg (Mrs. Warburg), was published in 2014. Across these novels, Linur employs satire to examine feminist concerns, gender expectations, and the absurdities of modern Israeli life, earning her a significant place in the country's literary landscape.

Essays and satirical writing

Irit Linur has published a book of humorous essays titled The Secret Blonde (Hebrew: הבלונדינית הסודית), issued in 1995 by Zmora Bitan. The work collects her satirical columns originally written for Israeli newspapers such as Koteret Rashit, Hadashot, and Haaretz. It presents sharp feminist satire targeting the discriminatory and objectifying attitudes toward women prevalent in the 1990s, critiquing diverse chauvinistic male behaviors and responding to derogatory stereotypes applied to women. Linur's writing employs a direct, bold style featuring witty observations, candid language including occasional strong expressions, and humorous public shaming of sexist attitudes to expose gender-based social pressures. The essays highlight tensions around marriage, children, and societal expectations for women, blending entertainment with pointed social commentary that underscores her reputation as a witty observer of gender dynamics. Readers have noted the collection's value as a snapshot of its era, appreciating its humor while recognizing shifts in gender awareness since its publication. This work stands as her primary published collection of satirical and humorous non-fiction outside her novels.

Journalism and broadcasting career

Irit Linur began her print journalism career in the 1980s as a columnist for the newspapers Hadashot and Haaretz, where she gained recognition for her satirical and pioneering feminist-leftist writing that challenged conventional Israeli social norms. Her columns introduced bold perspectives on feminism and societal issues to Israeli readers. In the 1990s, Linur's political outlook shifted toward more conservative positions. In 2002, she publicly canceled her subscription to Haaretz and published an open letter criticizing the newspaper for what she described as anti-Zionism in its reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and settlements, an action that drew widespread attention and some public support. Linur later became a regular opinion writer for Israel Hayom, contributing columns focused on political and social commentary, including critiques of progressive narratives, judicial reform debates, and national security issues, often incorporating satirical elements. She has also published occasional opinion pieces in Haaretz, including several in 2017 addressing topics such as religious practices at the Western Wall, gender roles in the military, abortion rights, and relations between Israel and Diaspora Jews.

Radio hosting and commentary

Irit Linur has been a prominent radio host on Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), most notably as a veteran presenter of the daily current affairs program HaMila HaAhrona ("The Last Word"). The program, which began broadcasting in September 1998, featured opinionated discussions of topical political and social issues, often with listener interaction through segments and social media. Linur served as a regular host alongside alternating co-hosts, including more recently Kobi Arieli and Dr. Yifat Biton, contributing to its reputation as one of Galei Tzahal's most beloved and enduring shows. Her commentary is characterized by sharp satire, bold opinions, and a right-wing secular perspective that frequently addresses controversial topics. This outspoken approach has occasionally generated public debate, as seen in her 2022 on-air remarks criticizing the Reform movement in Israel, which drew criticism from liberal Jewish groups. The program earned recognition as Radio Program of the Year in 2005. This satirical tone in her radio work aligns with her style in essays and other writings.

Film and television contributions

Screenwriting credits

Irit Linur has made notable contributions to Israeli film and television as a screenwriter and director, often adapting her own novels or developing original material for the screen. Her screenwriting debut in feature film came with the romantic comedy The Song of the Siren (1994), directed by Eytan Fox, for which she wrote the screenplay based on her debut novel Shirat HaSirena. She followed this with writing the short film Chatunat Hashanah (1998) and serving as both writer and director for one episode of the television mini-series Short Stories About Love (1998). Linur's most substantial television involvement was with the mini-series Bnot Brown (2002), where she acted as creator, writer for all eight episodes, and director for four episodes; the series drew from her novel of the same name. She later wrote and directed the television series Mishmoret (2007) and contributed as writer and director for three episodes of the mini-series What a Bachelor Needs (2009).

Adaptations of her works

Two of Irit Linur's novels have been adapted into film and television. Her best-selling novel Shirat HaSirena was adapted into the 1994 feature film The Song of the Siren, directed by Eytan Fox, with Linur writing the screenplay. The romantic comedy, set against the backdrop of the 1991 Gulf War and the frequent air-raid sirens in Tel Aviv, follows an assertive professional woman experiencing emotional growth and genuine romance while critiquing the superficial lifestyle of trendy urban society. It proved extraordinarily popular with Israeli audiences and is regarded as a leading example of the new individualism and professionalism emerging in Israeli cinema during the 1990s. Her novel Bnot Brown (The Brown Girls) was adapted into the 2002 television mini-series Bnot Brown, which Linur created and wrote.

Personal life

Irit Linur was born on 18 October 1961 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Family and relationships

Irit Linur was married to Alon Ben David, a senior defense correspondent for Israeli television (formerly Channel 10, now Channel 12 News). The couple married and later divorced. They have one child together. No further details about other relationships or extended family members are publicly confirmed.

References

  1. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/unprejudiced
  2. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1644156293-israeli-radio-host-causes-uproar-over-comments-on-reform-jews
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0513261/
  4. https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/this-is-my-narrative/
  5. https://library.osu.edu/projects/hebrew-lexicon/00906.php
  6. https://fathomjournal.org/israels-jane-austen-irit-linurs-all-too-normal-israel/
  7. https://jewishculture.illinois.edu/irit-linur
  8. https://simania.co.il/authorDetails.php?itemId=2149
  9. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22746910
  10. https://www.abayit-books.com/?page_id=6565
  11. https://www.e-vrit.co.il/Author/1771/%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA_%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A8
  12. https://simania.co.il/showReview.php?reviewId=130985
  13. https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2016-11-02/ty-article/.premium/the-israeli-journalist-with-a-blazing-love-for-trump/0000017f-e495-d75c-a7ff-fc9d8c3d0000
  14. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/28/the-dissenters
  15. https://www.972mag.com/israel-right-media-now14/
  16. https://www.israelhayom.com/writer/irit-linur/
  17. https://www.haaretz.com/ty-WRITER/0000017f-da57-d494-a17f-de5714af0000
  18. https://glz.co.il/%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A6/%D7%9E%D7%92%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A8
  19. https://glz.co.il/%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A6/%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%94
  20. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-02-06/ty-article/.premium/reform-jews-furious-over-attack-by-israeli-army-radio-host/0000017f-e8c0-da9b-a1ff-ecef4c6a0000
  21. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-song-of-the-siren/cast/2000084667/
  22. https://israelfilmcenterstream.org/film/songs-of-the-siren/
  23. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/filmmakers-israeli
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335626/
  25. https://alchetron.com/Irit-Linur
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