Moshe Gafne was among the chareidi MKs addressing the eighth annual Hamodia Conference in the Jerusalem Convention Center on Tuesday, 24 Tammuz 5773. Following is a synopsis of his remarks.

The Yesh Atid party is a passing phase. “In my conversations with Finance Minister Lapid he always feels the need to tell me ‘I am not like my father and I do not wish any harm to the lomdei Torah. Quite the contrary, I am concerned with your wellbeing and respect the chareidi tzibur and wish to assist.’”

I tell him “Just the opposite. This is what scares me. At least your father did not lie. He told it like it is. He was determined and straightforward in his opposition to the chareidim. However you are a different story.”

Gafne then referred to last week’s parsha, Balak, questioning why it is named after this rosha. He explains because Balak was honest and said what he believed the parsha bears his name. “He wasn’t a hypocrite. He said what he had to say loud and clear. He wanted to wipe out Am Yisrael.”

Gafne explained that regarding Lapid, who he labels “a hypocrite” there is cocern for Lapid speaks to his thousands and thousands of supporters, explaining how he wishes to assist the chareidim when in fact; this simply is not the truth. He spoke of how Lapid is merciless towards the middle class, “pounding away at them without mercy”.

Gafne concludes, “Permit me to turn to you, the participants, to say I am not worried. Yes, we are entering a difficult period but it will fade and pass. The Yesh Atid party will cease to exist. It cannot exist because it is hypocritical and phony. Any entity in our world seeking existence must be genuine. It does not matter what the hashkafa direction. Many have been wiped from the scene like this party, which is not honest or genuine.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)