The scandal-ridden and arguably corrupt haredi mayor of Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Moshe Abutbul of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, filed a formal complaint with police today after hateful comments about him and about the haredi community were posted online. Those comments rise to the level of incitement to violence, Abutbul says.
Rabbi Moshe Abutbol
Haredi Mayor Suspected Of Election Fraud Files Incitement Complaint Against Citizens Who Condemn Him
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The scandal-ridden and arguably corrupt haredi mayor of Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Moshe Abutbul (also spelled Abutbol) of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, filed a formal complaint with police today after hateful comments about him and about the haredi community were posted online, Arutz Sheva reported. Those comments rise to the level of incitement to violence, Abutbul says.
Abutbul filed the police report with Yelena Koniansky, the Beit Shemesh branch chairperson of the right wing, heavily Russian Yisrael Beitenu Party. Koniansky’s party joined with Abutbul’s to form a coalition government last month, and she claims similar threats were made against her and against her party.
Close haredi associates of Abutbul were caught in a massive organized voter fraud on election day. Hundreds of illegally used or fake national IDs were recovered by police, along with disguises and voters lists.
There were also widespread reports of haredi voters attempting vote multiple times and widespread reports of ballots for Abutbul’s challenger being stolen and destroyed, allegedly by Abutbul’s operatives.
Abutbul won the election by about 1,000 votes – well within the potential number corrupted in the fraud.
Eight haredim were arrested and a large-scale police investigation by Israel’s elite fraud and corruption unit is underway.
Israel’s Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, has called for a revote in light of the evidence against Abutbul’s cronies.
Abutbul rejects this, however, and insists that he was elected fair and square, despite the evident fraud carried out on his behalf – and, possibly, on his orders.
Abutbul’s Shas Party is notorious for public corruption scandals and for horrific slurs hurled at opponents.
Nevertheless, Abutbul – who has been by most accounts awful to political opponents, especially the Zionist Orthodox – claimed the high ground, if only for the moment and out of self-benefit.
"There can not be such agitation in Beit Shemesh against the public and elected officials. Words are capable of murder," Abutbul reportedly said, calling on all citizens to act with restraint and mutual respect – two things Abutbul has repeatedly himself failed to do.