Outrage in Likud after Blue and White MK calls Likud 'black'.

"If you want to call it right and left, call it right and left. If you want to call it black and white, call it black and white. They are black, we are white."

AUGUST 25, 2019 19:08

FORMER MOSSAD deputy chief Ram Ben-Barak says the qualities of a Mossad ‘warrior’ is his or her individual intuition, ability to cope with adversity and play multiple roles. (photo credit: SHIR SEGAL) — FORMER MOSSAD deputy chief Ram Ben-Barak says the qualities of a Mossad ‘warrior’ is his or her individual intuition, ability to cope with adversity and play multiple roles.

(photo credit: SHIR SEGAL)

The Likud expressed outrage on Sunday at a Blue and White MK who called the party of Prime Minister Netanyahu "black."

MK Ram Ben Barak said at a cultural event in Shoham on Saturday: "If you want to call it right and left, call it right and left. If you want to call it black and white, call it black and white. They are black, we are white."

The Likud responded that what Ben Barak said was "another unfortunate statement by the party of Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz against Likud voters."

A Likud spokesman pointed out past insults against Likud voters including "baboons" and "kissers of amulets and mezuzahs" (neither of which were actually said by Blue & White members). The party said the proper response would be delivered via the ballot boxes in the September 17 election.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz (Likud) called on Blue and White to fire Ben Barak and remove him from the party's Knesset list. He said if Lapid and Gantz did not fire him, they would become partners in what he said.

"I assume soon we'll see 'clarifications' and 'rewordings" of Ram Ben Barak's statement, but we've been called a "mob", "amulet kissers", and other gems," said Communications Minister David Amsalem (Likud). "Support for the Likud is high and authentic, it crosses borders and ethnicities, and God willing, it will bring us victory in September. Plain and simple, black and white."

Shas leader, Aryeh Deri, also responded to Ben Barak's comments: "Unfortunately, racism is still alive and well in Israel. MK Ram Ben Barak you should be ashamed! Calling people "black" only because they choose to vote for a party you don't like? One time we're 'baboons', once we were "amulet kissers" and now "black". To the heads of Blue and White, distance yourselves from this racist and deplorable statement."

Shas began a billboard campaign under the slogan "I am also black," with masculine and feminine forms of the Hebrew word for black.

Ben Barak replied that he did not intend to refer to race but to light and darkness and that any attempt to interpret his words otherwise is 'wicked.'

Blue and White officials said the press behaved irresponsibly by "amplifying bullsh*t attacks by cynical politicians weaponizing racism."

Idan Zonshine and Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.