The fake messages
In fake news, Labor accused of coordinating protest with Druze
Screenshots of fake WhatsApp chat allegedly show two Labor Party activists discussing how Druze leaders protesting the Nationality Law were promised political positions in return for rejecting PM's proposed outline to resolve crisis.
A fake WhatsApp conversation made the rounds on social media on Saturday allegedly showing Labor Party activists coordinating the protest against the Nationality Law with Druze leaders.
The fake screenshot was first posted on a Likud Party activist's Facebook account and quickly spread through social media, leading to online clashes between supporters of the two parties.
The exchange of messages shows two "Labor activists" discussing how Druze leaders rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed outline for a solution to the crisis after coordinating it with the Labor Party.
Druze protesters at Rabin Square (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
"What more can you ask for? The Druze are delivering the goods," writes "Avi Yaron," allegedly an activist from Labor's Central District.
"You think they won't give up?" asks "Kremer."
But Yaton says he met with Brig. Gen. (res.) Amal Asad, one of the leaders of the protest, at a cafe the day before and arranged everything with him. "There's no agreement (to the outline) and there won't be an agreement," Yaron insists.
"You're the best, history books will note that we came back into power at the expense of the Druze!" Kremer compliments and asks, "Is Amal getting a spot on the (Labor Knesset) list? Will Avi (Gabbay) agree?" implying the Druze protest leaders agreed to remain intransigent in return for political jobs in the future.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Amal Asad (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
A check of the Labor Party's activists list found no one named Kremer or Avi Yaron, and the party was quick to stress the conversation is fake.
A message being disseminated by Labor activists on social media on Saturday afternoon said: "A Likud party employee is spreading a WhatsApp correspondence attributed to Labor Party members. This correspondence is all fake, 100 percent fake. Every name, every letter and message here are simply not real. These are the kind of things coming out of the hatred machine on Balfour Street (where the prime minister's residence is located) to undermine the protest tonight."
The fake WhatsApp chat
"We will take action with law enforcement authorities to investigate those who spread this fake (correspondence). In any case, the answer to Bibi's fake news is to simply spread the truth, and coming to Rabin Square tonight at 8:30pm," the message concluded, using the prime minister's nickname.
Labor leader Avi Gabby slammed the prime minister, saying "The frightening Balfour spirits are manifested in the fake WhatsApp messages the Likud has been disseminating since this morning. These are evil spirits, dangerous, which erode the steadfastness of our society and tear it to shreds. All is fair on the way to the polls and in an effort to get out of the investigations."
"We will replace us, fix all you have destroyed, and turn the Declaration of Independence into the constitution of the State of Israel—the nation state of the Jewish people with full equal rights to all," he vowed.
The Likud Party has yet to comment on the story.
