Religious Zionism Candidate Criticizes Party's Controversial Judicial Reform Video

Former Lieutenant Colonel Itamar Itam, a candidate for the Religious Zionism party, publicly distanced himself from a new party campaign video that has sparked widespread criticism. The video, created using artificial intelligence, depicts senior figures in the Israeli justice system, including Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, Justice Daphne Barak Erez, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, being dragged by police during a protest against the proposed judicial overhaul.

During a panel discussion at the Givon High School in the Menashe Regional Council, Itam was asked by MK Naor Shiri of the Yesh Atid party if he condemned the video. Itam responded affirmatively, stating, "I did not like it." The campaign, which presents the Religious Zionism party's continuation plan for the judicial reform, has drawn sharp condemnation from opposition leaders.

Key opposition figures denounced the video, with Gadi Eisenkot of the Yishrael Party stating, "They learned nothing from 7.10." Yair Golan of the Democrats party called it "dangerous incitement and a call to shed blood," while Naftali Bennett of the Together party quoted a verse from the Book of Numbers: "And he said to the wicked, 'Why do you strike your neighbor?'"

The controversy highlights the deep divisions within Israeli society regarding the proposed judicial reforms and the methods used in political campaigning.