Religious Zionism Party Video Sparking Outrage Among Israeli Leaders

A campaign video released by the Religious Zionism party has ignited fierce criticism from prominent Israeli political figures, including Gadi Eisenkot, Benny Gantz, and Yair Golan. The video depicts Supreme Court justices and the Attorney General being forcibly dragged, accompanied by the slogan "Freeing the Blockage."

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, condemned the video as "despicable and violent," directly attacking Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich. Eisenkot accused Smotrich of tarnishing the reputation of the religious Zionist community and criticized the timing of the video during the Ten Days of Repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, stating, "They learned nothing from October 7th."

Benny Gantz issued a brief statement to Smotrich and MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Constitution Committee, saying, "Bezalel, Simcha, you learned nothing." Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Movement, labeled the video "dangerous incitement and incitement to bloodshed," asserting that those who portray judges and the Attorney General as enemies understand the implications of their actions. Golan further claimed that these are the same individuals who have been dismantling Israeli society for four years, referencing Smotrich's past remarks about Hamas and Rothman's attempts to reform the justice system.

Bezalel Smotrich responded to the criticism by challenging Eisenkot and Gantz to present their own detailed plan for reforming the justice system. He stated, "I call on you: Publish your legal plan as well. In recent years, you have said that you also agree that reform is needed in the justice system, but not the one we are proposing." Smotrich urged them to present their platform for repairing Israeli democracy in a detailed manner, allowing the public to decide.