Likud campaign slammed as sexist
Party's anti-Kadima campaign suggesting Tzipi Livni 'is in over her head' criticized by MKs as chauvinistic. 'If Kadima head was a man we would have gone even further,' says campaign manager
The Likud Party's new anti-Kadima campaign, suggesting Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni is out of her depth in her bid to be the next prime minister of Israel, has been slammed by some as chauvinistic.
Kadima Knesset Member Ronit Tirosh said that Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu's attitude "is tainted with chauvinism and reminiscent of your average macho, who is quick to whip out his yardstick."
This sentiment, she added, indicates that the Likud is under pressure, but the party "has to pay attention to its anti-educational messages."
Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila (Kadima) reiterated the sentiment: "I'm sorry to see that Bibi is bringing us back to those dark times, when women were considered unable to hold senior positions. We all remember that Bibi was there and that he failed. The women's vote will prove that Tzipi will succeed where he has failed."
Women's group: Likud campaign chauvinistic
The Israel Women's Network said the Likud's campaign "reeks of unforgivable chauvinism and is trying to take us back to dark periods.
"It cannot be that in the 21st century the Likud and its leader doubt a woman's ability to reach decisions and run the country," said Rina Bar-Tal, who chairs the non-profit organization.
Eli Ayalon, head of the Likud's election campaign said that the new campaign slogan, reading "Livni is in over her head," is meant "to expose the truth… Kadima's campaign tires to blur Livni's true colors and create an image detached for Kadima's failures.
"Our campaign won't let that happen. We will expose the real Livni, who was there when the decisions on the Gaza pullout and the Second Lebanon War were made, and when the financial crisis broke out," he said.
When asked of the Likud would have chosen a similar slogan if Kadima would have been headed by a man, Ayalon said that "if a man exhibited the same characteristics we would have gone even further. We’re barely scratched the surface in order to avoid being blamed for chauvinism or sexism.
"Ms. Livni is running for prime minister. The people should know the truth about its candidates."
Likud member Ofir Akunis said that "the chauvinism is only in the twisted minds of Kadima heads."
"Since they have nothing substantive to say in explanation of Livni's failures, Kadima chooses to throw around empty slogans that prove the truth of the statement," he said.
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
