After the release of the harsh condemnation of the Peleg faction by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, MK Moshe Gafne speaks out against the violent protests seen last week.

In an interview with Reno Tzaror of Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), Gafni was asked about the HaGaon HaRav Kanievsky’s statement pertaining to the stormy and violent protests held by the Peleg faction last week.

“Those who go to these demonstrations do not represent the chareidi public,” he said. “Like me, many people are angry that you, I did not hear accurately, as the media reports “chareidim” ‘the chareidi demonstrations,'” Gafni added. “It’s not the chareidi demonstrations, it’s not us, we have nothing to do with this, there is no reason for such demonstrations, and in any case, whoever wants such demonstrations, this is not the way, not our way, not the way we were educated.”

GZ:

Why do you say this is not a chareidi protest? Aren’t chareidim protesting?

Gafne:

This is not a protest of chareidim. The overwhelming majority of the chareidi tzibur is opposed to this, especially here, when the focus [of the protests] is in chareidi area but truly, this does not matter. This is not us! These are not chareidim! The general media reports ‘chareidim’ but they represent a minority faction and should not stain the entire population.

We do not have such protests. We held the million man protest and when has there been a problem since? There has since been the law of Yair Lapid and this led to the million person protest upon instructions of Gedolei Hador and it was orderly as was the one before it.

Gafne highlighted his point – Protests like these, in which there are confrontation with policeman and policewomen, male and female soldiers, this is not the chareidi tzibur. Remove this from the agenda. Call them whatever you wish, but please, do not call them chareidim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)