MK: Mizrahi Jews source of religious radicalism

Labor Knesset Member Daniel Ben-Simon speaks in conference on Moroccan Jewry, slams National Union MK Ben Ari saying 'had he lived in Germany he would have joined Nazis'

Ilana Curiel|Published: 01.05.11 , 00:47

Knesset Member Daniel Ben-Simon (Labor) slammed MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) Tuesday and said that had he lived in Germany he would have joined the Nazi party. Ben-Simon also criticized the Mizrahi Jews in Israel and said they were a source of religious radicalism and nationalism.

In a conference at the Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba regarding the Moroccan Jewry, Ben-Simon said: "Who is Michael Ben Ari? A Mizrahi by mother and father, a devout Kahanist. Had he lived in Germany he would have been lining up to join the Nazi party." He then added, "This is not our Sephardic heritage."

MK Ben Ari is known as a right-wing activist who is one of the leaders of the campaign to deport foreigners from Israel and separating Jewish girls from Arab men. He also endorsed the rabbis' letter calling Jews not to rent and sell apartments to Arabs.

Ben-Simon also criticized the Mizrahi Jews in Israel. "I'm telling you, the nationalistic religious radicalism is coming from the Mizrahi sectors. American academics ask me – why is it that the Moroccans are the most extreme? I go to Morocco for a conference and there is the deputy Moroccan foreign minister asking me 'Where is this extremism coming from?' and I have to defend myself all the time as though we have a gene of radicalism."

MK Michael Ben Ari said in response: "Nazis are those who wanted to annihilate the Jewish people. It's a pity Ben-Simon finds himself, and not for the first time, teaming up with those who hurt the State of Israel. Ben-Simon with his actions will destroy us and joins our worst enemies. In these circumstances he is better off being quiet and not trying to get media attention off of my back."

Yair Altman contributed to this article