Otzma Yehudit’s Ben Ari tells Elections Committee he’s not a racist

6 March 2019, 4:39 pm

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At a special session of the Central Elections Committee to discuss petitions to rule out the candidacy of Otzma Yehudit’s Michael Ben Ari, Ben Ari rejects allegations that he is a racist.

Ben Ari calls the claims against him “terrible, ugly.”

Michael Ben Ari, from the Otzma Yehudit party seen outside the Elections committee on February 21, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

He adds: “I’m the dangerous man the attorney general has said should not be in the Knesset…We’re the dangerous ones? We’re the inciters? We’re the racists? …We that go from funeral to funeral [of terror victims]?

“I’m not a racist. They’re making me into a madman, a demon.”

The committee is set to vote on Ben Ari candidacy. With the Kulanu party not expected to participate in the vote, the candidacy will likely be approved. However, the issue will likely move on to the courts regardless of the committee’s decision.