After Gantz-Ben Gvir handshake, Lapid says he doesn’t shake hands with supporters of terror
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Asked about National Unity party leader Benny Gantz’s recent handshake with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir at a wedding this week, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid tells reporters in the Knesset that he personally “does not shake hands with supporters of terror.”
In response, Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party releases a statement accusing Lapid of political collaboration with terror supporters, a reference to the inclusion of the Islamist Ra’am party in his short-lived unity coalition.
“Yair Lapid, who formed a government with the help of supporters of terrorism from the Islamic movement who refuse to condemn the murder of soldiers and support terrorism, has no right to preach to [National Security] Minister [Itamar] Ben Gvir and members of Otzma Yehudit,” the party states.
“Yair, continue to shake hands with the supporters of terrorism Tibi, Abbas and the other friends you love so much,” the statement adds.
לחיצת יד בין בן גביר לגנץ הערב בחתונת בבציק pic.twitter.com/FIxGZqrsml
— לירי בורק שביט (@lirishavit) September 2, 2024
Gantz attracted criticism after he was photographed shaking hands and posing with Ben Gvir — who has a past conviction for incitement to violence and supporting a terror group — at the wedding of a prominent ultra-Orthodox political figure’s daughter earlier this week.
Responding to criticism, Gantz on Tuesday said that he would not embarrass a fellow Jew, even one with whom he strongly disagrees, by refusing to shake his hand.
