Bennett lashes out at Netanyahu
Yuval Karni, Ynet, Jan 19 2013
Naftali Bennett accused Netanyahu of launching an offensive against the national religious public in an unusually harsh statement at Channel 2’s Meet the Press. Bennett said:
Mr Prime Minister, your name is on this campaign, and it reminds me of what was done to you after Rabin’s murder, when you were linked to a demonstration in Ra’anana which involved a coffin portrayed as Rabin’s coffin. You stand accused of launching an ugly campaign against the national religious public, of unprecedented proportions. You take a person like Moti Yogev, a company commander in Sayeret Matkal, a battalion commander in the Paratroop Brigade, and make him out to be narrow-minded. Do you really stand behind this rift you have created at the expense of the amazing national religious public? How do you do it, Mr Prime Minister? You have caused historic damage by alienating a public that twice made you prime minister. You have made a terrible, moral mistake.
Often criticized for including many extremists in his list, Bennett stated he was very proud of his party members. The Likud-Beiteinu said in response:
With his hysterical performance, Bennett tried to divert attention away from his list, and to that end he was willing to embarrassingly attack the prime minister, whom he himself put on his billboard ads. It’s sad that to hide his list and mislead the public, Bennett is has stopped so low.
R Ovadia Yosef: Habayit Hayehudi a party of goyim
Akiva Novick, Ynet, Jan 19 2013
Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef came out against Ha-Beit Ha-Yehudi on Saturday, claiming it was a party of goyim that seeks to abolish the Torah. During his weekly class, the rabbi questioned the piety of Ha-Beit Ha-Yehudi’s members, saying:
They want to introduce civil marriage, to have public transportation on Shabbat, and they call themselves religious? They must not be referred to as religious. Do not vote for them.
A Shas senior official later said:
Rav Ovadia is very concerned for the Jewish public in Israel. His words speak for themselves. This is a wake-up call for the undecided. We are confident everyone will return to their home.
Ha-Beit Ha-Yehudi said in response:
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is an important spiritual leader for many sectors in Israel and we respect and admire him. Our goal is to act as a bridge between the sectors of Israeli society, and we shall continue to do so. If we come under fire from all parties, then we must be doing something right.
Earlier on Saturday, Shas’ three leaders visited Rabbi Yosef at his home and informed him of Ha-Beit Ha-Yehudi’s surge in the polls, expressing concern that it was taking votes away from Shas. Earlier this week, Ha-Beit Ha-Yehudi’s Ayelet Shaked said the party is seeking control of conversions and will promote speedier procedures. She said:
There is a speedier way to perform conversions, even in accordance with the halacha.
The issue of conversion is a major part of Shas’ campaign and was featured in one of its election ads, featuring a marriage ceremony during which the bridegroom discovers his wife is a Russian immigrant who has just received an automated conversion. The ad was later removed.
More Assorted Electoral Phenomena
Ynet, Jan 19 2013
Leaders of the Left-Center bloc attended election events across the country Saturday and leveled criticism not only of the Right and those in power, but also at each other. Ha-Tnua chairwoman Tzipi Livni stressed the party’s stance against the current government, saying:
The public can give power to whoever makes a commitment to fight against the extremists, against the diplomatic stalemate and the turning of Israel into a Halacha state.
Elsewhere, Amram Mitzna, #2 on Ha-Tnua’s list, criticized all the party’s opponents, saying:
If Jabotinsky and Begin were alive, they would not vote Likud. Rabin and Ben Gurion wouldn’t vote Labor, either. If anything, those four would unite, because the Israeli society is in danger.
Meanwhile, Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich addressed both Ha-Tnua and Yesh Atid at yet another election event, saying:
It would be sad if it turned out that the entire purpose of the new parties of Lapid and Livni was to reinforce the rule of Netanyahu.
As for Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid, he insisted Saturday:
Yesh Atid will not be a part of a government that does not promote an equal sharing of the burden. If needed, we will be a fighting opposition.
Niqnaq 