Netanyahu Yells at Haredi Official Over Voter Turnout Concerns

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a heated exchange with Itche Dzhalevsky, a Haredi information line producer, on Tuesday evening, as captured in a leaked recording. Netanyahu expressed frustration and anger regarding the potential voter turnout of the Haredi community, questioning if they intended to vote for a "left-wing government" and if they were "crazy."

During the conversation, Netanyahu pressed Dzhalevsky about the Haredi community's intentions at the ballot box. Dzhalevsky explained that the community was "very angry" due to unfulfilled promises concerning conscription and other matters. Netanyahu responded by shouting, "Tell me, are they crazy? Do they want a left-wing government? What are they crazy? We will die."

Dzhalevsky attempted to explain that the community desired a government that would fulfill its promises, emphasizing their wish to remain observant Jews without their religious practices being trampled. Netanyahu countered, expressing concern that a failure to vote could lead to the "destruction of the Torah world" and questioned if that was their intention.

The discussion continued with Dzhalevsky stating that the Haredi community would only vote after their promises were upheld for a period. Netanyahu expressed urgency, noting that Mansour Abbas's government, which he claimed would "destroy the Torah world," was set to be formed in an hour and a half. Dzhalevsky cited four years of consistent broken promises as the reason for their distrust.

Netanyahu repeatedly asked if the Haredi community would not be voting, to which Dzhalevsky responded that they were not convinced anyone would keep their word. The producer indicated that it was "very difficult to convince people who received promises that were not kept." Netanyahu inquired if there was anything that could be done in the remaining hour and a half, and Dzhalevsky suggested that guarantees from "great rabbis" might help, but acknowledged the difficulty given past unfulfilled commitments. Netanyahu concluded the call by asking if Dzhalevsky was saying there was nothing to be done, to which Dzhalevsky replied that he thought it was "very, very impossible."