"Apologize to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef as soon as possible, or you'll die," reads one of dozens of messages Bayit Yehudi MK received.
By LAHAV HARKOVDeath threats sent to Ayelet Shaked 370(photo credit: Courtesy Ayelet Shaked)
MK Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) filed a complaint with Knesset Security Wednesday night after an onslaught of threatening text messages were sent to her phone by supporters of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.The threats followed the Bayit Yehudi’s faction meeting on Monday, in which the party gave Yosef one week to publicly announce that he supports a deal in which the Bayit Yehudi would pass legislation allowing the reelection of Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, and Shas would support Zionist Rabbi Yaakov Ariel for the Ashkenazi chief rabbi position.Shas activists saw the Bayit Yehudi’s limit of a week as an ultimatum to Yosef. Soon after, Shaked’s cellphone number and the following message was sent to a group of Shas activists on the instant-messaging smartphone application Whatsapp: “Friends, Ayelet Shaked hasn’t apologized for her impertinence toward the genius Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, may he live a long life. How can we be quiet when an MK from a religious party gives an ultimatum to the greatest rabbi of our generation? We must all send her text messages until she apologizes.”Shaked received dozens of threatening messages, including one that says “may you burn slowly in hell.”Another message said: “Apologize to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, may he live a long life, as soon as possible, or you’ll die. What have you done?”Shaked also received an SMS telling her that her “days are numbered” for harming Yosef, and repeated a quote from the rabbi during the election earlier this year, that the Bayit Yehudi is a “house of gentiles.”“Who are you to make an ultimatum to the greatest rabbi of our generation? You’re lower than garbage,” a message read.On Wednesday night, Shaked filed a complaint about the messages to Knesset security. They are being investigated.
