MK Gilad Kariv Accuses Activist Sheffi Paz of Seeking Role in Otzma Yehudit Party

MK Gilad Kariv of the Democratic Party sharply criticized social activist Sheffi Paz following her controversial AI-generated video depicting African migrants in South Tel Aviv being forcibly removed and discarded like garbage. Kariv condemned the video as one of the most repugnant displays of incitement in Hebrew social media and compared its imagery to historical anti-Jewish propaganda. He suggested that Paz’s video might be a political maneuver aimed at joining the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which he labeled as racist and nationalist and accused of neglecting South Tel Aviv neighborhoods. Kariv did not provide evidence of Paz’s political intentions, framing his claim as speculation.

The video, which sparked widespread outrage, shows migrants being collected by a mechanical arm from public spaces and thrown into a garbage truck, then later seen rebelling on the beach and boarding rafts sent out to sea. Paz defended the video, stating it was intended to shock and highlight the harsh realities faced by South Tel Aviv residents. She responded directly to Kariv’s criticism by contrasting the migrants with right-wing youth, implying he might feel less guilty if the video targeted them instead. Paz also noted the video was released on Saturday night and questioned why Kariv took several days to respond.

The incident has intensified debates over immigration and political rhetoric in Israel, with Paz’s video and Kariv’s accusations reflecting deep divisions over how to address migrant issues and the role of extremist parties like Otzma Yehudit. The controversy is ongoing, with no indication of further political developments from Paz or the party at this time.