Minister Avigdor Lieberman
צילום: גיל יוחנן
Lieberman's 'Kapo' remark draws fire
Leftist MKs slam hawkish minister for comparing Israeli leftists to Kapos in Nazi concentration camps during Second World War.
Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman compared Israel's leftist politicians to "kapos" in Nazi concentration camps during an interview with Channel 1 on Saturday, drawing fire from leftist parties.
The remarks came days after he irked leftist politicians when he referred to Israelis with leftist political views as "Hellenists," a reference to Jews who adopted the Greek culture during the period of the Second Temple.
Lieberman defended his remarks, saying he was referring to Israeli citizens who work against Israel's interests.
Kapo is a term used to refer to Jews and other minorities who held minor administrative jobs in concentration camps during the Second World War.
Meretz chairman Yossi Beilin slammed the Labor Party for not responding to Lieberman's remarks.
"The problem is not Lieberman, but the Labor Party. Lieberman fills a virtual post with the non-existent portfolio of strategic affairs," Beilin said. "Lieberman understands this and he has to justify his existence in the government through crazy expressions like these."
Beilin criticized Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for not firing Lieberman over his remarks.
He slammed the Labor Party for agreeing to be in the same coalition as Lieberman despite having promised its voters not to do so.
"The Labor Party is proving that as far as it is concerned being in the government is something it prefers at any price, regardless of the damage it is causing," Beilin said.
Labor MK Danny Yatom said: "Lieberman continues with his verbal rage with the aim of causing a row and divisions. The language he uses is unacceptable, even in a tolerant democracy like Israel."
Yatom said Lieberman was targeting the left because its agenda of achieving peace obstructed his agenda of war. He called on Labor MKs to issue a statement condemning Lieberman's remarks.
Labor MK Nadia Helou said there was no limit to Lieberman's "insolence and despicableness."
