On the eve of Israel’s national elections, Labor Party officials were simmering over campaign banner that read, “Netanyahu is Good for the Jews.”
The banners appeared after a group of fervently Orthodox rabbis called this week on supporters to back the Likud leader in Wednesday’s elections for prime minister.
Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair said he would examine whether the banners, distributed by the Chabad movement, violated Israel’s laws against racism.
He also said there would be an examination into the transfer of government funds for Chabad.
Cabinet ministers charged Tuesday that Chabad describes itself as an educational movement, but has operated a political group during the election campaign.
Likud officials disassociated the party from the banners.
Adding to the climate of recriminations was a second banner that red, “Peres if Good for the Arabs.”
Meanwhile, Labor Party officials accused the Likud of having made a secret deal with the fervently Orthodox Agudat Yisrael in exchange for its support.
Labor officials alleged that in return for their rabbinical endorsement, Agudat Yisrael would be rewarded if a Likud-religious party coalition were formed after the elections.
The Labor Party said that under the deal, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Porush of Agudat Yisrael would replace the Likud’s Ehud Olmert as Jerusalem mayor.
The party would also be given control of the Housing Ministry and the key Knesset Finance Committee.
Both the Likud and Agudat Yisrael denied there was any pact.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Prime Minister Shimon Peres had come up with his own package of concessions for Agudat Yisrael in return for its support.
In another election-related incident, the grave of the late Likud Prime Minister Menachem Begin on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem was desecrated Tuesday with political slogans.
Vandals used red paint to scrawl at the gravesite, “Peres Will Win,” “Bibi, Go Home,” and “Rabin Was Murdered. Blood Will be Paid with Blood.”
Police were investigating the incident.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
