The primarily Arab Hadash communist party and the left-wing Meretz kicked off new campaigns Monday, both targeting Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) Chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
Hadash Chairman Mohammed Barakeh promoted Hadash as “a shelter from Liebermanization.” He also unveiled Hadash's new campaign slogan: “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies. Hadash — the opposite of Lieberman.”
According to Barakeh, “Liebermanization” is not a phenomenon limited to Yisrael Beiteinu, but rather “has unfortunately penetrated many segments of the population.” Lieberman represents “racism,” “fascism” and “transfer-ism,” he said, the latter a reference to those who believe Arab Israelis should be encouraged to emigrate.
Barakeh and fellow Hadash MK Dov Khenin expressed concern over the number of seats Yisrael Beiteinu is expected to receive in the upcoming elections. Polls show Yisrael Beiteinu getting 13-16 seats, and the party is in close competition with Labor to be the third-largest party on the Israeli political scene, after Likud and Kadima.
The left-wing Meretz party plans to attack Lieberman as well, according to a report on Ynet based on testimony from anonymous Meretz activists. Activists said they had been asked to compare Yisrael Beiteinu to European fascist parties, and to draw parallels between Lieberman and deceased Austrian politician Jorg Haider, who was famous for making several pro-Nazi remarks.
Yisrael Beiteinu officials said the alleged Meretz smears were unworthy of a response.