Avigdor Lieberman, the outspoken head of Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) has often faced hostility from the heads of Arab parties in Israel. Now his latest campaign has aroused harsh criticism from a new quarter – the hareidi-religious United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party.
Many of the latest Yisrael Beiteinu elections posters bear the slogan, “No citizenship without loyalty.” MK Rabbi Meir Porush of UTJ attacked the slogan Monday and accused Lieberman of attempting to impose a worldview heavily influenced by totalitarianism.
"Lieberman was educated in the communist Soviet Union and he still has not freed himself from the totalitarian regime's false concept of 'loyalty,'” Porush charged. In non-totalitarian states, the government is an instrument of the state, and the state is an instrument of the people, he said.
"What does 'loyalty to the state' mean?” Porush continued. “If the state completely ceases to be Jewish; if the state abolishes the Sabbath as a day of holiness and rest; if the state declares itself a neutral democracy and an entity cut off from Jewish tradition – will we need to remain loyal to such a mutation?”
Yisrael Beiteinu has suggested tying social benefits to IDF or national service, an idea that has angered both Arab Israelis and the hareidi-religious community. Very few Arab Israelis participate in national (non-military) service, and in the hareidi-religious community young men are encouraged to continue full-time Torah study instead of participating in military or volunteer service.
Ben-Gvir: Lieberman a Poor Imitation
Lieberman faced criticism from the nationalist camp as well, as prominent activist Itamar Ben-Gvir stated Monday that he was “a poor imitation” of Rabbi Meir Kahane, the deceased leader of the now-banned Kach party. Ben-Gvir's statement was a response to journalist Chaim Yavin, who had accused Lieberman of following in Kahane's footsteps.
Ben-Gvir insisted that Yavin apologize for comparing Lieberman and Kahane, saying, “Lieberman tried to mimic the rabbi, but it is a very poor imitation. Rabbi Kahane would never agree to split Jerusalem as Lieberman does, Rabbi Kahane would not have agreed to turn Arab cities over to terrorist rule, and Rabbi Kahane would not have sat in [Acting Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert's government.”
Ben-Gvir concluded his letter by threatening to charge those who compare Lieberman and Kahane with slander.