"The verbal violence currently directed at the chareidim is
unprecedented in scope and in venom. The material circulated
by the Am Chofshi organization in postcards and ads in the
newspapers, is far more gruesome than anything we have known
until now, with the clear intention to divert public
sentiment against the chareidim and to delegitimize that
sector of Israeli society," writes Rabbi Danny Nasi, director
of Manof, the Chareidi Information Center. These are excerpts
from a letter sent by Rabbi Nasi sent to the Attorney
General, Eliakim Rubinstein, in the wake of Am Chofshi's
antisemitic campaign against the chareidi public.
Recently, Am Chofshi circulated postcards and ads which said:
"This year, 22 soldiers were killed in Lebanon and not one
chareidi draft dodger was killed in the tents of Torah. You
fight for us, and now we'll fight for you. Separate religion
from money." On the reverse side of the postcard was a
picture of two soldiers gazing at a military cemetery.
Another of Am Chofshi's propaganda postcards reads: "More
than 3000 elderly people in Israel are waiting for beds in
nursing homes, and there aren't any. But this year, again,
fictitious chareidi organizations will steal tens of millions
of shekels from the public coffers."
Manof has demanded that the Attorney General launch a
criminal investigation against Am Chofshi and its heads,
since the circulation of such material violates laws
forbidding incitement. In his letter to the Attorney General,
Rabbi Nasi writes that "the chareidi public has become
increasingly aware of the establishment's intention to
legitimize the efforts to cause us to be despised, and to
serve as punching bags and the butt of jeers reminiscent of
the grimmest periods in Jewish history. This trend is
particularly manifest against the background of the
forthcoming elections, during which anti-chareidi propaganda
will presumably serve as a springboard for the political
advancement of public figures and parties."
Manof also turned to the Prime Minister and the President,
demanding that they publicly denounce the antisemitic actions
of Am Chofshi.
Interior Minster, Eli Suissa (Shas) said: "We are not
speaking about the Am Chofshi ("free nation") organization
but about the Free Blood organization. It is true that 22
soldiers were killed in Lebanon. But the head of Am Chofshi
didn't serve in the IDF, either. The call to separate
religion from money is reminiscent of gruesome antisemitic
campaigns which referred to Jews as Shylocks."
