Deri blames Kahanists for anti-Bibi signs at protests

The leadership of the tent said the activists were aggressive and refused repeated requests to stop hanging signs and distributing flyers.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Rothschild Tents 311 (photo credit: Linda Epstein)
Rothschild Tents 311
(photo credit: Linda Epstein)
The leadership of the tent city at Tel Aviv’s Rothschild Boulevard refused to allow activists Sunday night to hang signs bearing the slogan “Only Deri can topple Bibi,” a reference to former Shas leader Arye Deri and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The leadership of the tent said the activists were aggressive and refused repeated requests to stop hanging signs and distributing flyers.
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“There have been media reports that Deri intends to join the tent protests after Tisha Be’av,” a spokeswoman for the tent leadership said.
“Everyone is invited, because this is a protest of the nation and it is open to anyone interested. However, our purpose is to achieve genuine social change and a redivision of the burden on citizens of Israel, and there is no place for advancing political goals at the expense of this important protest.”
Deri has expressed interest in forming a socioeconomic party ahead of the next general election that would attempt to unite different sectors of Israeli society as the tent protests have successfully.
Right-wing activists have expressed concern that such a party could take votes away from the Right and help Kadima form the next government.
A spokesman for Deri denied any connection to the signs and blamed them on Kahanist protesters who have come to the tent led by rightwing activist Itamar Ben- Gvir, whom Deri is suing for recently printing signs in Deri’s name that were seen as insulting to Shas mentor Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
“The same bullies who caused the destruction of the Holy Temple with their baseless hatred haven’t learned their lessons and continue their disreputable actions,” the Deri spokesman said.
Ben-Gvir denied being behind the signs, but he said he agreed with their content.
“Sorry, but I am not connected,” Ben-Gvir said. “Nevertheless, the message is correct. Deri is the dream of the leftists.”