Communications Minister Karai Demands Removal of Campaign Video

Communications Minister Shlomo Karai has issued an ultimatum to the "Yashar! Im Yisrael" party, demanding they remove a campaign video within 48 hours. The video features an image of Karai alongside the text, "Shlomo Karai fled in an armored vehicle on October 7th and is only working to dismantle Israeli communications." Karai's legal team sent a letter of warning, stating the video is false and defamatory.

The letter, sent by Karai's lawyer, details his account of October 7th. According to the document, Karai was at his home in Zikim, near the Gaza border, with his wife and eight children. He requested to join the fighting from the community's security coordinator and was not evacuated at that time. The letter claims that security officials instructed him to wait for an armored vehicle before leaving for a government meeting at 4:00 PM. It further states that his departure in the armored vehicle was mandated by authorized security personnel.

After the government meeting where the war was declared, Karai returned to his home in Zikim and managed the Ministry of Communications' war room. He and his family were evacuated from Zikim four days later, as part of his duties and under security guidance. The lawyer demands the party immediately and permanently remove the "slanderous video" and issue a public apology and clarification on the platforms where it was distributed.

Karai commented, "One can argue, one can criticize, and one can wage a sharp political campaign. One cannot use the day of the terrible massacre to fabricate lies." The warning letter specifies that if the demands are not met within 48 hours, legal action will be pursued. Karai added, "Whoever turns this terrible day into a false fabrication for political campaign purposes will be held accountable."