Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter sharply criticized remarks by Likud MK Could Golan, girls’s development and social equality minister, on Thursday. Her feedback have been directed at MK Gilad Kariv and Reform Judaism.
Earlier, following stories that Rafi Kedoshim had been appointed as her adviser, Golan lashed out at Kariv (Democrats): “What Rafi Kedoshim does, you gained’t obtain in one other 200 lifetimes whereas marching with the Girls of the Wall or officiating canine weddings in your delusional synagogues,” she mentioned.
Kedoshim, a member of the Herzliya metropolis council, just lately made remarks throughout a gathering of a Particular Committee on the Rights of the Baby. He mentioned that the teenagers who killed pizza store supervisor Yemanu Zelka on Independence Day “didn’t imply to kill him, simply to stab him.” On the time, Yesh Atid MK Pnina Tamano-Shata accused him of trivializing the violence. Twenty years in the past, Kedoshim served 4 jail sentences for acts of violence, kidnapping, and extortion.
Golan’s feedback sparked a scourge of condemnations from Leiter and several other different Israeli politicians.
Leiter, who describes himself as Orthodox, mentioned Golan’s remarks have been unacceptable and mentioned he would meet Reform motion leaders to apologize on behalf of Israel.
Golan rejected Leiter’s criticism, saying she was glad the ambassador had time to answer her feedback however accused him of taking them out of context. She mentioned her remarks have been directed solely at Kariv personally and never at any Jewish neighborhood.
The incident comes amid renewed debate in Israel over relations with non-Orthodox Jewish actions, together with Reform and Conservative Judaism.
Kariv mentioned Golan had not merely insulted him personally however had additionally defamed tens of millions of Reform Jews in Israel and world wide. He described her remarks as antisemitic and accused the federal government of legitimizing hostility towards non-Orthodox Jewish streams.
“Could Golan, a minister in Israel, is spreading ugly antisemitic libels in opposition to tens of millions of Reform Jews in Israel and all through the Jewish world,” he wrote in a submit after the incident.
“That is essentially the most anti-Zionist and antisemitic authorities in Israel’s historical past. They’ve turned fanaticism and bullying right into a lifestyle. They spit within the face of anybody who holds beliefs totally different from their very own.”
Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Motion for Reform and Progressive Judaism, additionally condemned Golan’s feedback, saying they mirrored ignorance, incitement, and contempt towards tens of millions of Jews. She mentioned the remarks harmed the strategic connection between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.
