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Gafni Offers Explanations of Anti-chareidi Incitement
By Yechiel Sever
Rabbi Gafni offered two explanations for the current anti-chareidi campaign. "One, because more and more segments of the population are drawing closer to the chareidi public, are observing mitzvas and Jewish traditions, more than ever before. The second reason is that we are building a coalition with the Right and with Netanyahu. Attempts of various kinds and coming from different directions were made to undo this coalition, including the socioeconomic struggle, and when these attempts failed, now they are trying to break apart the coalition through incitement against the chareidi public. Therefore I say to the chareidi public: Don't let this bother you; go ahead and act normally. Those people who are doing the things depicted in the media, I tell everyone that I don't know any chareidi individuals who would act like that, I am not familiar with this kind of behavior."
The recent wave of anti-chareidi incitement in Eretz Yisroel has broken new records: During this week's cabinet meeting — for the second week running — Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu commented on the media incitement surrounding the Mehadrin bus lines.
"I appeal to all public figures and spiritual leaders to act against this phenomenon," he said. "The public sphere in Israel will be open and safe for all."
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni (UTJ) responded to the recent media onslaught, calling it a pack of lies. "Even when the Prime Minister asked to meet with me about this, I told him I wouldn't come to the meeting while an incitement campaign of this sort is taking place. Rabbi Litzman and Eli Yishai did the same," said Rabbi Gafni. "The solution which apparently will not be done, is to go to a political coalition with the Left, and then there will be peace, no incitement, no Mehadrin lines and no racism."
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