PM urges Haifa mayor not to appoint deputy accused of backing Hamas, Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls on the newly elected mayor of Haifa, Einat Kalisch-Rotem, to reverse her plan to appoint a deputy who has voiced support for terror organizations Hamas and Hezbollah, backed BDS and claimed Zionism inspired the creation of the Islamic State terror group.

Public outrage erupted last week as reports came out of the upcoming appointment of Joint (Arab) List council member Raja Za’atra, a member of the Communist Party of Israel which has been criticized by many in recent years for supporting Bashar Assad’s regime and its allies in the Syrian civil war.

At the outset of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu says: “This morning before the meeting I sought Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch to request that she cancel the appointment of a deputy mayor who supports Hamas and Hezbollah, which have declare their intention to destroy the State of Israel. I hope that request is heeded.”

However, Kalisch-Rotem’s associates say she rejected Netanyahu’s request during their phone call, explaining she had no intention of reneging on her coalition agreement with Za’atra’s “Haifa Front” party and adding that he is only due to become deputy mayor in two and a half years.