Waves of criticism continue to flow following Peretz's gay conversion remarks

"Regarding the LGBTQ community, whoever wants to help should hug and accept. People are born this way and can not be converted," Yair Golan claimed.

JULY 14, 2019 12:38

MK Rafi Peretz at a ceremony at the education ministry (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) — MK Rafi Peretz at a ceremony at the education ministry

(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Waves of criticism kept on flowing on Sunday morning after newly appointed Education Minister Rafi Peretz stated on Saturday night that he believes in the highly controversial practice of “gay conversion therapy.”

Justice Minister Amir Ohana responded to the words issued by Peretz, claiming that he condemns the statement and stressed that "Likud party does not support such ways."

הרב פרץ התבקש להבהיר את דבריו בממשלה: ״הדברים ברורים מספיק״אמיר אוחנה במרחק מטרים ספורים ממנו, תוקף אותו בחריפות ושולח אותו במרומז לטיפולים מהסוג הנ״ל pic.twitter.com/fkMcjDzpd4
— מיכאל שמש Michael Shemesh (@shemeshmicha) July 14, 2019

Former Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni wrote on Twitter, "We cried out that the Netanyahu government is erasing the equality from the Declaration of Independence, and now we have received it directly from the Minister of Education."

"Conversion treatments and an apartheid state. Both sides of the same coin of injustice. Those who condemn the one and remain silent in front of the other will accept both. Such state will be neither Jewish nor democratic," Livni concluded.

Former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan also commented on the comments made by Peretz by saying, "I do not accept his opinions but the man himself is a dear one, he's a gentle soul, far removed from the image of the recent declarations made."

"Regarding the LGBTQ community, whoever wants to help should hug and accept. People are born this way and can not be converted," Golan claimed.

Labor leader Amir Peretz added on Sunday morning, "We are dealing with the man who is tasked with teaching our children patience and accepting the other."

Amir Peretz also added, "And here we all thought that Peretz is the moderate part of the United Right."

Former Likud MK Yehuda Glick raised a question on Twitter asking, "Why is it that up until 5 years ago gay people could demand recognition in conversion therapies, while today an education minister, who claims to have personal experience in such treatments, cannot think they are legitimate, could there be a forcing of opinions in Israel?"

Otzmah member Itamar Ben Gvir defended Rafi Peretz by claiming that "He did not mean what he said, he's new to the office and did not hold many interviews in the past."