MK Asher Slams Haskel's Election Ad as Antisemitic Incitement

Member of Knesset Yaakov Asher, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, has sharply criticized an election video released by the Israel First party, led by Sharan Haskel. The video depicts a Haredi figure pulling money from the pocket of a wounded and bound soldier. Asher condemned the clip as "antisemitic incitement," warning that it constitutes "the shedding of Haredi blood in a style reminiscent of dark periods in history." He stated that if any Haredi individual is harmed due to this incitement, Haskel bears responsibility.

The controversial video, released under the slogan "Haredim for the Future of the Nation," shows an injured soldier tied up in a dark room. A Haredi character approaches, takes money from the soldier's combat uniform pocket, and says, "Thank you, righteous one." The Israel First party's campaign message described the Haredi public as "extortionist and draft-dodging," referring to soldiers as "personal ATMs and human shields." The campaign has sparked outrage due to its sweeping generalizations and the use of imagery portraying Haredi Jews as greedy, exploiting wounded soldiers for financial gain.

Asher further characterized the video as "incitement that speaks primarily about its creators, haters of people and haters of religion." The Israel First party's campaign has been criticized for its blatant generalizations and the use of a Haredi Jewish figure as a symbol of greed, exploiting the vulnerability of a wounded soldier to take his money.