In the past day, it seems, the Israeli political parties were pulling out all the stops in order to increase their potential Knesset mandates. Yahadus HaTorah-United Torah Judaism activists distributed flyers in Arab neighborhoods and communities, using the slogan “Chareidim for Equality.” UTJ stated that it would protect the Arab sector’s interests against Yisroel Beiteinu’s manifest. Some of the party’s flyers label Yisroel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman a racist, and state that “Arabs and chareidim fight racism – vote United Torah Judaism.”
UTJ’s elections headquarters said that “the party is trying to recruit as many votes as possible. We appeal to the Arab voters who care about matters of modesty and family honor.”
MK Moshe Gafni added that “we are against racism and for the Torah, and the Torah clearly says, ‘Veger lo silchotz ve’atem yedatem es nefesh hager kee geirim heyeesem b’eretz Mitzrayim – Do not oppress a stranger; you know the feelings of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Parshas Mishpatim 23:9).
Lieberman, said Gafni, has no respect for the principles of democracy. “If you govern over a country that has a non-Jewish minority living in it, you have to look out for that minority’s rights, unless you know for sure that minority will harm you. The Torah commands it. I don’t think Lieberman makes that distinction, but United Torah Judaism does.”
{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}
