Responding to the news that Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana has appointed a Tzohar rabbi, Benayahu Brunner, to head the state conversion system, MK Moshe Gafni, head of the UTJ party, said that this was a long-expected and highly damaging move.
"Removing Rabbi Moshe Valler from his position at the head of the conversion system and replacing him with Benayahu Brunner from the Tzohar organization is equivalent to placing an idol in the Sanctuary," Gafni said. "Throughout the years, there was agreement between Religious Zionists and the haredim that no one from Tzohar would be appointed to that position, despite the pressure exerted by Tzohar to that end, in order to avoid creating a rift between the haredim and the Chief Rabbinate, between the instructions of the haredi rabbinic leaders of the generation and the Religious Zionist leaders. But Matan Kahana is actually seeking to create such a rift," he accused. "He wants to create a rift in the Jewish People itself and appoint only those who do his bidding.
"What we have been warning about for so long has now been proven as truth, for everyone to see," he added. "The history of the Jewish People will vomit him out due to his despicable deeds."