MK Moshe Arbel of Shas sent a scathing letter this morning (Sunday) to the head of the government unit for combating racism, Attorney Awka Zena, following the remarks of 'Ulpan Shishi' presenter Rina Matzliach against the Haredi public - which were broadcast last Shabbat night.
In the letter, titled "Racist and generalizing incitement by reporter Rina Matzliach against the Haredi public in 'Ulpan Shishi'," Arbel demands that the head of the unit take immediate action against Matzliach.
He said, "These days, the State of Israel is in one of the most difficult crises it has ever known, a health and economic crisis that affects all segments of the population. These are difficult days that require patience, self-discipline, and unity from Israeli society. It is now clear that our strength lies in our unity and our behavior in the crisis affects not only us and our relatives, but also Israeli society as a whole."
He added: "That's why I was shocked and saddened to hear that precisely on the night of the Great Sabbath, just days before the entire Jewish people sat down to celebrate Passover and tell about the Exodus from Egypt, journalist Rina Matzliach incited in 'Ulpan Shishi' against the Haredi population, using harsh words, generalizations and crude lies."
Arbel then cited several quotes from Matzliah's speech:
"The Haredim feel unbound by the state's orders, that's the majority of the Haredim"; "There is a public here that has not accepted the state's authority for years, this didn't happen today for the first time with the coronavirus, it's been happening for years"; "Income tax officials who enter businesses in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem only leave with a mobile escort because the residents attack them"; "I need to remind you of what happens when a young man receives a draft order even though he knows he won't enlist, what kind of demonstrations and road closures we see"; "I want to remind you of the terrible demonstrations by the Haredim 20 and 25 years ago when it was necessary to close the Bar Ilan Highway in Jerusalem."
"It is clear that the reporter's concern is not with encouraging the population to obey the instructions of the Ministry of Health, but rather with wild and severe incitement against the Haredi public, while telling blatant lies, generalizations, and mixing gender with non-gender. As part of the hate monologue, the reporter even referred to events that occurred about 25 years ago. It seems that only by chance was the accusation of the Haredi in the murder of Arlozorov omitted from the monologue," he attacked.
"These things may lead to fueling feelings of hatred and violence against the Haredi population and legitimizing statements of this type and actions in the spirit of these things. Reporters must be careful with their words even on ordinary days, but these are not ordinary days, the Israeli public is tense and worried about its relatives and its personal future. Expressions of hatred may fall on attentive ears in times of tension and distress such as these, and it is expected of media personnel to act responsibly and not give room to feelings of hatred and division. As the head of the unit for coordinating the fight against racism, I ask you to act as soon as possible against the reporter, involving the Attorney General and the regulatory authorities responsible for the news company, if necessary."
English 
Hebrew