Minister of the Interior Aryeh Deri addressing the press during the press conference at th
Minister of the Interior Aryeh Deri addressing the press during the press conference at thHillel Meir/TPS

In an attempt to sharpen its criticism of Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas), who is advancing the “Supermarket Bill” along with United Torah Judaism (UTJ), Haaretz newspaper published this morning, Thursday, a caricature of Deri as a suicide bomber.

If passed, the law would grant the Interior Minister the powers to block bylaws passed by municipal authorities that allow grocery stores and mini markets to open on Shabbat.

The cartoon shows Deri, a stern look on his face, approaching a supermarket as he wears an explosive belt. The next frame of the cartoon shows Deri after he has already “activated the belt” and the explosion has caused a “boom” at the scene.

Haredi journalist Aryeh Erlich slammed the exaggerated criticism, asking Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken in a Tweet, “Have you fallen on your head? Have you finally gone completely mad? Showing Deri as a terrorist? How can such an inciting and violent caricature be published in your newspaper? Is there no limit to the vulgarity?”

Last Monday, the coalition postponed until next week a vote on the Supermarket Bill, after coalition heads were unsuccessful in garnering a majority required to approve the bill.