Member of Knesset Ayelet Shaked of the
right wing Zionist Orthodox HaBayit HaYehudi party reportedly had to
file a complaint with Knesset Security last night after she received
what an “onslaught of threatening text messages” from supporters of the
Sefardi haredi Shas Party’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Knesset Member Reportedly Gets “Death Threats” From Shas Party Activists
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Member of Knesset Ayelet Shaked of the right wing Zionist Orthodox HaBayit HaYehudi party reportedly had to file a complaint with Knesset Security last night after she received what the Jerusalem Post calls an “onslaught of threatening text messages” from supporters of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
The threats followed a meeting of HaBayit HaYehudi’s Knesset members Monday, which ended with an ultimatum to Yosef, giving him one week to publicly announce that he supports a deal made by HaBayit HaYehudi and Shas. HaBayit HaYehudi agreed to support legislation allowing the Sefardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar to be elected for a second term (right now, chief rabbis are only allowed to serve one term), and Shas agreed that ot would support Zionist Orthodox Rabbi Yaakov Ariel’s candidacy for Ashkenazi chief rabbi.
After the meeting, Shaked’s cell phone number and the following message was reportedly sent to a group of Shas activists.
"Friends, Ayelet Shaked hasn't apologized for her impertinence toward the genius Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, may he live a long life. How can we be quiet when an MK from a religious party gives an ultimatum to the greatest rabbi of our generation? We must all send her text messages until she apologizes,” the message read.
Shaked reportedly received dozens of threatening messages.
"Apologize to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, may he live a long life, as soon as possible, or you'll die. What have you done?,” one read. Another told her that she would “burn slowly in hell,” and a third warned that he "days are numbered.”
"Who are you to make an ultimatum to the greatest rabbi of our generation? You're lower than garbage," a fourth message read.
Knesset security is reportedly investigating.