For MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Moshe Gafne, the shouts demanding a new election in Beit Shemesh is not about election fraud as much as they are sour grapes over the fact the chareidi candidate was reelected. Gafne does not deny there may have been election fraud, but explains the law demands in such a case a court of law must rule on that particular election.
He insists if the winner was a non-chareidi the rallies and shouts for another election would not be taking place. Gafne stated the entire matter is motivated by an anti-chareidi sentiment, nothing more. Gafne feels the actions of those demanding another election are “grossly undemocratic”, calling for the matter to be adjudicated in a court of law if the integrity of the outcome of the election is questionable.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
Sore loser they are the chilonim. Then they make up lies about fraud. If there was fraud, there were only a few instances which definitely wouldn’t have changed the outcome. But this lawless anti-charedi government will make sure to give in to Bennett and redo the elections.
No, MK Eichler, no – the issue is fraud perpetrated by some individuals in the Chareidi community in support of their candidate. By calling the protests a form of anti-Chareidi racism, you are no better than someone like the Rev. Al Sharpton when he calls everything in the US that demands responsibility from the African-American community racist. Playing the racist card does not absolve the community from the norms of civil – or civilized – society.
In the election five years ago, Moshe Abutbul was running against a non-Chareidi (though Shomer Torah uMitzvos) candidate, and won – and the victory was accepted graciously by the supporters of the losing candidate. This time, there are serious, credible allegations of fraud and malfeasance on a scale that could have changed the results – and, to use a favorite phrase of Rabbonim out of its usual context, there are “Raglayim leDavar”.
It is therefore quite necessary to do a thorough investigation, and, if warranted, re-run the election. Can the DL or not-yet-religious community accept a loss? Of course – see the reaction to the loss in the race for Chief Rabbis, where the supporters of the losing candidates wished the winners well and looked for ways to work together for the greater good. Asking people to accept the results of a possibly fraudulent election, though, is unreasonable.
an Israeli Yid
WRONG AGAIN, Gafne.
A large segment of Bet Shemesh are Anglos, they are not accepting the Israeli way of life through fraud, deceit, make believe voters, absentee people voting. You do not get it, Gafne.
People have tottally lost their mind and credibility if they believe that the anger is over a Chareidi winning and not the massive voter fraud that is already uncovered. If it were the other way around, would the Chareidim accept the fraudulant result?
When the Chareidi won last time, did anyone protest when they didn’t know the tactics the Chareidim use to steal election?
People accepted the result last time, so your off the wall theory that its just anti-Torah or anti-Chareidi hold no water. Try being intellectually hones for a change.
You very well could be right that there wasn’t enough fraud to have tipped the scales. But most people believe in fair elections, and want to know that the elections were done right. Even Abutbul probably doesn’t want a huge part of constituency believing that he cheated his way back into office.
So, if you’re right that the majority of voters legally voted for Abutbul, and if we could do a second election properly, then Abutbul will be elected again, and this time we would all know that it was done fair and square, and that indeed the majority of Beit Shemesh residents want him as mayor. It seems that this could only help Abutbul.
There was significant voter fraud in the Eli Cohen neighborhoods that those folks are trying to hush hush.
In any even, the Interior Minister certified Abutbol as the winner and there is very little likelihood of their being a do-over election.
To #1 if all the votes are KOSHER THEN YOU AND ALL YOUR CLOSED MINDED FRIENDS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR ,BUT THE TRUTH .LET US HAVE A NEW ELECTION IN BEIT SHAMESH WITH THE POLICE AT POLLING STATIONS.By the way I am a charedi.
People who engage in election fraud aren’t charedi.
At least I hope not!
To #7 I am so happy to hear u think u a charedi!! Either way people from both party are at ever poll booth, so police aren’t necessary and if those there didn’t realize to call the cops I don’t want them running my government.btw I’m charedi and live in Bs.