Grapevine April 12, 2024: Farewell but not goodbye

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Author: GREER FAY CASHMAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Given the fact that Israel is at war, the event was a fairly low-key affair without music but with wine and beer, lots of food, and mini-reunions among people who had not crossed paths in a long time. There were a few speeches laced with a little humor, and the general impression was that although Dromi was retiring, he was not going to be idle

When asked what he was going to do he replied that he would write books because that's what people do in retirement.

His record indicates that he'll do more than write books.

Brief mention was made of the fact that he's a leftist but that he'll be forgiven on account of his own journalistic integrity.

It was noted that Dromi has never been afraid to voice his opinion, and indeed in his brief speech, he referred to the fact that he had been the Government spokesman in the administrations of both Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres who were each fluent in English, but spoke with pronounced foreign accents, and Peres particularly so in French where his Polish accent was unmistakable.

Then alluding to recently dismissed Government spokesman Eylon Levy who was dismissed at a time when Israel's image is sorely in need of a talented spokesman, Dromi commented dryly on the stupidity of dismissing someone whose British-accented English is perfect.

Dromi also had high praise for his successor Talia Dekel-Fleissig, whom he described as a "wonder woman," who he said, has already proved herself by giving journalists all they need by way of facts, events, introductions to decision makers, plus all the services and equipment they require for broadcasting, and more.

This, while she's also the mother of three young children, said Dromi.

Dekel-Fleissig, for her part, pledged to maintain Dromi's legacy of journalistic values.

Dan Meridor, whose CV includes the international chairmanship of The Jerusalem Foundation, quipped that when he left the Knesset he found himself "unemployed" and when approached by Dromi about joining him in creating the Jerusalem Press Club, he readily agreed.

The Jerusalem Foundation continues to be among the JPC supporters, and its current president Shai Doron was present among the guests.

Ethan Bronner, who is presently the Israel bureau chief and senior editor for the Middle East at Bloomberg News, first met Dromi some 30 years ago when Dromi was director of the Government Press Office and Bronner was working for The Boston Globe.

When most Israelis in officialdom thought that the foreign press was negatively...