Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch, the chareidi candidate in the Jerusalem mayoral race, has responded to outrageous campaign of Chagit Moshe and the Bayit Yehudi party in the Jerusalem mayoral campaign. The campaign warns voters that only Bayit Yehudi will prevent the capital from becoming chareidi, using derogatory photos of three of the leading candidates in the race with chareidi hats and peyos, leading to widespread condemnation. Deutsch called Moshe “an instigator” who causes machlokes.

“The heart is pained to see the inciting and divisive campaign of the Bayit Yehudi party against the chareidim this morning,” he said of the publication in which mayoral candidates Elkin, Leon and Berkowitz are seen wearing wigs and a hat under the caption “The Bayit Yehudi will block the influence of the chareidim.”

Deutsch also had words of praise for Bayit Yehudi chairman, Minister Naftali Bennet, who was quick to condemn the campaign, which he explained was launched by the local chapter of his party without consulting with him. Bennet stated the campaign in no way is reflective of the party’s position vis-à-vis the chareidi tzibur.

Deutsch added, “We know that the campaign does not characterize and reflect the path of religious Zionism in the city and we will continue the good and productive cooperation we have had with its representatives over the years.”

He concluded, “At the beginning of Rosh Chodesh Elul, the month of mercy and forgiveness, I call upon all the candidates and all the parties: Please maintain a clean language and a respectful campaign against every person and every sector.”

Jerusalem Councilman Aryeh King, of the Meuchedet party, is calling on Bennet to throw Chagit Moshe off the party list in response to her outrageous actions.

Ofir Berkowitz, the candidate from the Hisorarus party said, “the campaign of Bayit Yehudi causes disgust and a harsh feeling, bordering on anti-Semitism, and in the public debate, responsible conduct should be maintained and the entire population should not be despised.”

“It is ironic that the Bayit Yehudi faction that signed the transfer of educational institutions to the chareidi education system under the failed Neighborhoods Agreement program that harmed Jerusalem, is launching a campaign against the chareidim.”

The party concluded, “Only Hisorarus and Ofir Berkowitz will lead a unified Jerusalem, in which one public will not step on another. That is the way to lead Jerusalem, because if Jerusalem does not belong to everyone, it will not be.”

Mayoral candidate Moshe Leon said in response: “Bennett’s reservations about the chairman of [the Jerusalem branch of] Bayit Yehudi say everything and I congratulate him on that.

“As a member of religious Zionism, I know that the religious Zionist public does not reflect this split and divided campaign that we saw this morning. The creation of caricatures in Jewish characters brings us back to dark days – something that cannot happen anywhere in any campaign in the State of Israel, let alone in Jerusalem.

“As the next mayor of Jerusalem, I engrave on my flag exactly the opposite – unification. The unification and harmony between the residents of Jerusalem is a critical factor in the success of the city – and this is our supreme mission. I call upon all candidates to act with respect for one another and for the various publics, and to maintain a clean election campaign. Every election has its issues.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)