Machane Tzioni party leader MK Yitzchak Herzog blames the media for his having to be mechalel Yomtov on Rosh Hashanah.
Over Rosh Hashanah it was reported that he was taking part in secret talks with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu towards entering the coalition government. Herzog has since denied the accuracy of the reports, insisting no such talks are taking place.
In his comments to Channel 10 News, the opposition leader explains that he was in shul for a number of hours on the second day Yomtov when he was pulled out of shul and informed of the reports of his ‘secret talks’. He decried the report, which he labeled false, adding it could have waited until motzei Yomtov, blaming his having to be mechalel Yomtov on this report.
Herzog in his response told all news stations there are no ongoing talks and he is not looking to enter the coalition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
First of all, assuming he left the shul to talk to reporters in the lobby, how is that conversation any different than any other kind of gossip conversation which occurs in the hallways and lobby of just about every shul on Shabbos, yom tov etc.
Second, I doubt he was “pulled out of shul”. I’m trying to visualize the optics of this erhliche yid being literally dragged from behind his shtender by a gaggle of reporters from Haaretz etc. insisting he must speak with them on coaltion rumors.
Did he explain how the rumors “forced” him to be mechalel yom tov? I’m having a hard time coming up with a plausible scenario.
So was he pulled out of shul by force? How did they force him to make a statement as oppose to just saying I’m in shul now and will make a statement when Yom Tov is over.