Bennett condemns ‘incitement’ against right

Economy Minister Naftali Bennett issued a statement Sunday accusing Israel’s left of “incitement,” a day after a rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the “Jewish state” bill in Jerusalem.

“I recently heard [declarations of] unprecedented incitement against the nationalist public,” said Bennett, who heads the Orthodox-nationalist Jewish Home party. ‘They called us ‘racists,’ ‘fascists,’ a ‘cancer,’ ‘Hitler’ at a demonstration yesterday.”

“I say to the left: Keep your cool,” he added. “Stop the calls [against us] in the streets. The Jewish state law is part of the coalition agreement and was always there, and it talks about a Jewish and democratic state. There’s nothing new here.”

Demonstrators Saturday night expressed concern over a range of issues, specifically targeting the perceived undemocratic nature of the “Jewish State” bill, a measure that would enshrine Israel’s character as a Jewish state among the country’s Basic Laws — its de facto constitution.

Critics have argued that the measure will weaken the country’s democratic character and erode the status and rights of Israel’s Arab and other minority populations.

The protest, which took place in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence, was attended by a broad spectrum of the Israeli left that included supporters of the Labor, Meretz and Hadash parties, as well as members of the Peace Now settlement watchdog.

At the protest Meretz MK Issawi Freij, an Israeli Arab, claimed Netanyahu was eroding the rights of national minorities and setting a dangerous anti-democratic precedent.

“At least we have held on to the hope of equality that is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Bibi is taking this hope away from us,” Freij said, referring to the prime minister by his nickname.

“After Bibi goes after the Arabs, he’ll go after you too. The ‘Jewish state’ bill is a green light for fascism,” the MK told the crowd.

Bennett, however, cast doubt on the left’s motives and praised the rise of the country’s right wing, asserting, “Gone are the days where incitement against the right was met with silence. We will not be silent anymore.

“We are not ashamed to be right wing, and we’re not going to stop promoting what we believe in,” he declared. “On the contrary: the rules do not change because of incitement against us in the streets.”

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.