Eichmann on the Air: Radio and the Making of a Historic Trial

perspective taken here nevertheless leads to some new, and
potentially important, revelations on the process and its perception
in Israel. But perhaps more importantly, this perspective captures
something of the public climate surrounding the trial, a climate
which seems to have been more diverse than some historical
accounts tend to portray.
From the People’s Hall to the People’s Ears
Preparations for the trial began shortly after Prime Minister Ben
Gurion's announcement at the Knesset of <strong>Eichmann</strong>'s kidnap on
May 23 1960. Teddy Kollek, the Prime Minister's bureau chief,
was in charge of supervising all administrative aspects of the trial,
including public relations. 2 From the outset, special attention was
given to the press and media coverage. David Landor, the director
of the Government Press Office, outlined the key points as early as
two weeks after the announcement of <strong>Eichmann</strong>'s capture. Among
the issues raised by Landor: allocating seats for journalists,
photographers and cameramen in the courtroom; setting up
television transmission to an outside venue; arranging for radio
transmission and recording by Kol Yisrael; and preparing on-site
press rooms and press facilities. Initial suggestions also included
publishing a book on the trial, initiating a production of a
2