The controversial image
Likudiada tweets Raban can’t hurt Israel’s ‘mom and dad’
Despite 2018 Likudiada official tweet, featuring photo of fmr. PMR employee suing Mrs. Netanyahu, organizers say ‘'We have nothing personal against Raban, were making statement opposing incitement campaign against PM, wife.'
The annual Likudiada event for members of the governing party once again made headlines this year, as promotional materials for the event tweeted by the official Likudiada Twitter account showed a blurred photo of Shira Raban—former Prime Minister's Residence employee currently suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife Sara for abuse—alongside a photo of the Netanyahus next to the caption: "Israel's mother and father. You won't hurt them!"
"Neither Shira nor Raban will be able to hurt them. See you at the Likudiada!" another tweet read.
The Likudiada tweeted Raban's photo
The Likud party's special event will take January 11 in Eilat. Another tweet showed a photo of Likud ministers and MKs such as David Bitan, David Amsalem, Miri Regev and others sitting on a bus supposedly making its way to Eilat with the writing, "Off to the Likudiada we go."
Public criticism was also leveled against the timing of the 2017 Likudiada, as opponents scorned the fact that it would fall on the same day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. In response Minister of Culture Miri Regev claimed, "International Holocaust Remembrance Day never received so much coverage as it did this year, thanks to the Likudiada."
Responding to questions regarding their use of Raban's image, Moshe Pesel and Moshe Ben-Zaken, two of the event's organizers, said, "We have nothing personal against Ms. Raban, but we are making a statement opposing the campaign of incitement and agitation against the prime minister and his wife."
