Tel-Chai Nation

The man who'd been convicted for fraud more than decade ago is attacking the Likud because he's greedy for the housing ministry, and doesn't show much respect for Russian Jews either. But wait'll you see the really hilarious part:

Aryeh Deri, who is part of the Sephardic-hareidi Shas faction's ruling triumvirate, let the genie of Sephardic rage out of the bottle Thursday with a nasty comment against the combined Likud / Yisrael Beytenu list, also known as Likud Beytenu.

"Today we have learned who truly controls Likud," he said, after a statement from Lieberman made clear that Shas's power in the next government would be diminished. "Yisrael Beytenu has carried out a hostile takeover of Likud. From the party of the people, Likud has become an arrogant, smug party that represents Russians and whites."

Huh?!? Isn't he white/caucasian himself? The Likud is also the party that helped bring black Ethiopian immigrants to Israel in 1991, something Shas hasn't ever exactly supported themselves, and he's acting oblivious to that?

His attacks on Russian Jews are also insulting and inappropriate, reeking of a ghetto mentality that doesn't belong in our society. And he's acting like a victim too. Deri also exploited the name of a minister who doesn't approve of his insanity:

"They humiliated [Moshe] Cachlon," he said, "and now they want to humiliate the rest of the Sephardic ministers. This is a wake-up call to all Sephardim: come home, Likud is no longer your home. Shas is your natural and true home. Only a strong Shas will safeguard the Sephardim in the next Netanyahu government." [...]

Communication Minister Cachlon dismissed Deri's statement. "These things are not true," he said of Deri's claim that he had been humiliated. "I suggest that Aryeh Deri find other gimmicks; and that if he decides to use my name, that he at least say true things and stick to the facts. I am a part of Likud and Yisrael Beytenu, and I will remain that way."

The Ashkenazi-Sephardic divide was an explosive issue in past decades, but in the last 10-20 years it has largely died down, as parties with large Sephardic bases like Likud and Shas became permanent fixtures in the government and as Sephardim and Ashkenazim increasingly intermarry.

Deri's propaganda is outmoded and extremely cavalier. Coupled with his own corrupt activity years ago, it only shows why it'd be better to form a new government coalition without him.

Update: rabbi Chaim Amsalem issued a response to Deri.

Labels: Israel, Moonbattery, political corruption