Yossi Ahimeir Leaves Yeruham Group Citing Intolerance and Political Extremism
Yossi Ahimeir has announced his departure from the Yeruham group following a wave of attacks he faced after posting a controversial message. Ahimeir criticized the group, which was intended to promote unity, for lacking tolerance toward dissenting opinions and for harboring extreme left-wing hatred toward political opponents. He recounted incidents of left-wing extremists protesting with blood-stained hands outside the Religious Zionism party office, comparing their extremism to historical anti-Zionist violence in the 1930s.
Ahimeir shared personal reflections on his friendship with the late Tzvika Tzameret, the group's founder, who privately supported the Likud party but feared public backlash. He contrasted the group's stated goal of unity, as expressed by its current leader Moshe Ben Atar, with the reality of hostility he experienced, including harsh personal attacks accusing him of being a "small and pathetic Bibi supporter" and other hateful remarks. These attacks followed his Facebook post recalling violent incidents and condemning only the extreme left, not the entire left-wing.
Ahimeir also criticized a letter signed by retired Major General Matan Vilnai and others urging U.S. President Trump to intervene in West Bank affairs, calling it a shameful invitation to foreign interference in Israel's democracy. He noted that while some group members privately disagreed with the attacks against him, none publicly condemned them. Feeling alienated, he left the group with relief but lamented the erosion of tolerance within it.
Additionally, Ahimeir highlighted rising extremism on the right, citing provocations near the Arab village of Kusra in the West Bank, where young settlers blocked access roads, damaging Israel's image. He questioned why the Israeli military had not intervened to stop these provocations and called for law and order enforcement in the West Bank against violence from both Arab militants and right-wing extremists. With elections approaching, Ahimeir urged the public to reject extremists on both sides through their votes.
