Netanyahu claims Shas as the Likud's natural partner
When we thought the discourse could not deteriorate further...
From the Knesset rostrum, MK Azoulay (Shas) launched a flurry of insults towards MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv, (Labor) and all attempts by the Speaker of the Knesset to stop his hysterical slur shouting were to no avail. Kariv, for his part, retorted that “This will not help you; and you will hear me many more times, whether that suits you or not.”
Uri Regev 09/12/2021 22:16
Tags: Shas · Likud · Yinon Azoulay · Gilad Kariv
Aryeh Deri, source: Wikipedia
In a debate held in the Knesset last night regarding an amendment to the Government Companies Law, MK Rabbi Kariv (Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and former director general of the Reform Movement) called out to MK Azoulay of Shas, who spoke from the rostrum, asking him whether he supported the amendment to the law. In response, Azoulay began a flurry of insults towards Kariv, and all attempts by the Speaker of the Knesset to stop his hysterical slur shouting were to no avail. Kariv, for his part, retorted that “This will not help you; and you will hear me many more times, whether that suits you or not.”
Following is a list of the insults that Azoulay made [Some of them were difficult to decipher in the recording, and he seemed to have lost self-control shouting them repeatedly]: “Little Reformer sit quietly, get out!” “Take a hike, Reformer.” “Little Reformer, get out of here.” “Sit down, I’m tired of seeing you.” “You are a disgrace. You do not know what Judaism is.” “What are you doing here besides [spreading] hatred?”
Azoulay also disgracefully shouted at the Speaker of the Knesset, : “You're so small.” “Tired of seeing you.” And more, Until the Speaker's patience ran out, and he ordered the ushers to remove Azoulay from the podium.
It is impossible to not relate to the way in which the Likud is repeatedly presenting Azoulay and his colleagues as ‘The Likud's Natural Partners.’
In this context, it is impossible to not relate to the way in which the Likud is repeatedly presenting Azoulay and his colleagues as ‘The Likud's Natural Partners.’ Consider these extreme affronts targeting the largest religious movements in world Jewry and the repeated threats of huge demonstrations against the Western Wall Agreement if reinstated, which was presented by Netanyahu himself. It is hard not to wonder about the silence of the Likud and even its encouragement of the ultra-Orthodox parties in their struggle against American Jewry and Jewish pluralism. Such curses do not honor the Likud and do not honor its proud legacy and core principles.
Horrific remarks like those of former Minister MK Dudi Amsalem, which we reported on in the previous newsletter, as well as the remarks of former Minister MK Miri Regev just this week against the Western Wall compromise and against Jewish pluralism (even though she voted for it in 2016 when the Likud was leading the government coalition), are but a few examples of an issue that should be of concern to any seeker of democracy and freedom of religion.
We keep out of the legitimate dispute between right and left, but cannot disregard the fundamental values upon which no democracy worthy of the name can turn its back… Certainly not a Jewish and democratic state that boasts of its partnership with pluralistic Diaspora Jewry and considers it a strategic asset.