Ben-Gvir Targets Russian-Speaking Voters in Bid to Undermine Lieberman
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Otzma Yehudit Chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir is targeting Russian-speaking voters, a traditional base for Avigdor Lieberman's party, with a new campaign. The initiative, led by immigrant Ezra Mor, aims to challenge Lieberman's proposal for Jordan to manage Palestinian affairs in the West Bank. Ben-Gvir seeks to portray Lieberman as outside the national camp, hoping to gain Knesset seats. Mor, a popular online commentator, has faced controversy for past statements.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit launched a campaign targeting Russian-speaking voters, a base of Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu.
- The campaign criticizes Lieberman's plan for Jordan to manage Palestinian affairs in the West Bank.
- Ezra Mor, a Russian-speaking immigrant and online commentator, heads the new immigrants' bureau for Otzma Yehudit.
- Mor has a significant social media following and focuses on pro-Israel advocacy and countering enemy propaganda.
- Past controversial statements by Mor led to a canceled lecture and criticism from Haifa's mayor.
- Ben-Gvir aims to gain Knesset seats by portraying Lieberman's proposal as anti-national.
Otzma Yehudit Chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir is launching a new campaign targeting Russian-speaking Israelis, a demographic long considered a stronghold of Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party. This move comes nearly a week after Lieberman presented a political plan suggesting Jordan take responsibility for managing Palestinians in the West Bank. Ben-Gvir's party has established an immigrants' bureau aimed at challenging Yisrael Beiteinu's hold on this community, framing Lieberman's proposal as contrary to the national camp.
The new bureau is headed by Ezra Mor, a Russian-speaking blogger and political commentator who immigrated to Israel from Moscow in 2020. Mor left his position at the Airports Authority following the October 7th attacks to focus on public diplomacy and media. He has since gained a significant following on social media, with tens of thousands of subscribers on YouTube and around 20,000 on Telegram, where he promotes pro-Israel narratives and exposes Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad propaganda.
Mor has been involved in controversies due to past sharp remarks against Palestinians, left-wing individuals, and women, which led to the cancellation of a lecture in Haifa. The Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, stated at the time that such speakers were unwelcome in the city.
Despite the criticism, Otzma Yehudit views Mor as a key figure for reaching Russian-speaking voters. Ben-Gvir believes that many in this demographic hold strong security and sovereignty views, making Lieberman's proposal to involve Jordan an opportunity to gain Knesset seats in the upcoming elections by portraying him as willing to cede territory or authority to an Arab state.
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