Netanyahu Blasts Haredi Activist Over Low Voter Turnout Warnings
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at ultra-Orthodox activist Itche Dzelovsky in a leaked call, warning that Haredi voter apathy risks bringing a left-wing government to power.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply rebuked ultra-Orthodox activist Itche Dzelovsky during a recorded phone conversation, expressing deep frustration over low voter turnout among the Haredi community.
During the tense exchange, Netanyahu pressed Dzelovsky on whether ultra-Orthodox voters intended to head to the polling stations. "What is happening with the Haredi public?" the Prime Minister asked, prompting Dzelovsky to explain that community members are deeply angered by unfulfilled promises regarding military enlistment and other key issues.
Heated Exchange Over Election Risks
Raising his voice, Netanyahu demanded to know if voters had lost their senses, warning that staying home would pave the way for a left-wing coalition. "Are they crazy? Do they want a left-wing government? They want to destroy the world of Torah, so they refuse to vote?" Netanyahu exclaimed.
Dzelovsky, a member of the Gur Hasidic sect, attempted to defend the public stance, arguing that voters want a government that will deliver on its repeated commitments and protect their traditional way of life without undermining their religious practices.
Warnings of a Left-Wing Coalition
Netanyahu dismissed the grievances as secondary to the immediate electoral danger, warning that inaction would swiftly lead to a rival coalition backed by Mansour Abbas, which he claimed would move to dismantle religious institutions.
When Dzelovsky maintained that trust had been eroded over four years of broken promises, Netanyahu repeatedly pressed for a definitive answer on turnout. Concluding that the activist viewed widespread abstention as inevitable, the Prime Minister abruptly ended the call.
