Shas Party Launches Sharp Public Attack on i24NEWS Journalist Ari Kalman

The Shas party issued a rare and harsh public condemnation on Tuesday against Ari Kalman, the political reporter for i24NEWS, accusing him of spreading falsehoods about the internal conduct of the party's spiritual leadership. Shas described Kalman as a "fake reporter" who repeatedly disseminates "vile lies" against the party. The statement emphasized that the party had previously refrained from responding but felt compelled to act after Kalman allegedly crossed a red line by disrespecting senior Torah sages and falsely claiming they were coerced into signing letters.

Shas accused Kalman of deliberately attempting to undermine the political efforts of the ultra-Orthodox representatives in the Knesset, particularly regarding the contentious issues of the military draft law and funding for Torah study. The party called it a "shame and disgrace" that someone presenting himself as a Haredi journalist would behave in such a manner. Instead of acting responsibly, Shas charged, Kalman is focused on sowing division within the Haredi community and continuously trying to sabotage complex legislative initiatives aimed at preserving the Torah world.

This public denunciation reflects heightened tensions between Shas and media figures covering the ultra-Orthodox sector, especially amid ongoing debates over conscription and budget allocations. The party’s strong language signals a firm stance against what it perceives as damaging reportage that threatens its leadership and political agenda.