Ayelet Shaked tried to explain to the public how and why party leader Naftali Bennett selected former soccer star Eli Ochana for the 11th position on the lineup. She said “Naftali wanted a Sephardi who grew up in difficult conditions”. These words angered Shas party officials. Shaked made her remarks to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), adding “I am told he is intelligent. I am the only non-religious person in the party at present. The others are all religious and most are Ashkenazim. Let’s keep an open head for a number of hours and hear what Naftali has to say. I have checked it out and he has done teshuvah regarding his support [at the time] for the Gaza expulsion. He wants to be part of a social effort. Let’s give him a chance”.
Shas is angry over what is perceived as insulting remarks, calling on Naftali Bennett to compel Shaked to apologize for her statements on the air. “We call on Minister Naftali Bennett to decry the words of Ayelet Shaked immediately, for her dark racist statements made this morning” the Shas statement reads. “The ‘intelligent’ Shaked this morning revealed her true face regarding the transparency of the Sephardim” Shas adds, concluding “Sephardim are not an off the shelf commodity for Ashkenazim to buy”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
Please explain MK Deri, what bothers you about Ayelet’s statement? Were you upset when Kahlon, from a large and poor Sefardic family decided to start his own party to help the “invisible poor” survive and overcome obstacles?
Oh Deri, get a life! Boy are you showing a side of yourself we’ve hardly seen. Sefardim are who they are: Ashkenazim are who they are! The world is full of people and all have to good and overcome their flaws. Stop acting silly!
What was racist?
At least she is honest about how the Ashkenazim see us.
Shas’ indignation is surely justified, although truth to tell, Ms. Shaked’s remarks aren’t necessarily dark and racist. The real question ought to be how can a party that calls itself religious (granted it’s stretching things a bit), yet place the an avowedly non-frum woman in the #2 slot. Now a “traditional” former soccer star is on the party roster. Granted it’s likely he never played on Yom Kippur, but there are a lot of Shabbossos in a year too. Looks increasingly like what many Gedolim have said over the years that the “national” aspect has overtaken the “religious” aspect.
#5. Looks more like politics stinks & garnishing votes overcome principles & values & honesty & ehrlichkeit.
See it in all parties!!
I am surprised by bklynmom, Yaapchik ,ThinkingCap.
“I am told he is intelligent” implies that other Sephardim are not, and irrespective of how you understand it, in Israel it is understood exactly as how Deri has read it, a patronizing comment.
We should not question the national religious because of this. This situation has arisen because Bennett wants to be PM and he see the best way of achieving this by having a mixed party ie Likud 2 . He lacks Sephardim in this venture and he wants to draw those that support Likud to his camp
#7, It you at whom we’re surprised.
It does not imply that all other SEPHARDIM are not intelligent.
The way I read it, it implies that country to the traditional stereotype of athletes and sports figures, that portrays them as just talented, but rather dumb, this guy happens to be intelligent too.
If you have a problem with stereotyping athletes, then you might be rightfully indignant.
Otherwise, learn some reading comprehension, and don’t unnecessarily stoke the fires of controversy.
You may be right, but there might be others who understand things differently, and possibly the correct way.
Just cool it.
“I am told he is intelligent” — JUDAh, is that statement a negation of all other SEFARDIM??? Is it possible that DERI was exhibiting super-sensitivity??