Yesh Atid MK Makes Comparison Between Netanyahu And Hitler, Arousing Fierce Response

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — As Israel’s fifth election campaign in three years staggers towards its conclusion, the level of incendiary rhetoric has risen markedly. On Shabbat, Yesh Atid MK Ram Ben-Barak, who in the past served as deputy director of the Mossad and director general of the Ministry of Intelligence Services and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, insinuated a comparison between former Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hitler. Ben-Barak said that “I’m not comparing [Netanyahu to Hitler] but Hitler also took power democratically.

“I’m explaining the fear that this could materialize. The law – one of the first thinks he [Hitler] did, if not the first, was to cancel the Supreme Court. We need to preserve our democracy. Therefore this alliance between a racist anti-democratic party of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and a person who will do almost anything to evade justice is a dangerous alliance.”

Ben-Barak’s comparison was sharply criticized by other members of the political establishment. Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionist party reminded Ben-Barak that his comparison was historically inaccurate: Hitler’s first act was to cancel parliament and not the courts. Rothman added “Parliament, do you recollect? That is the body you have burned and trampled over the past year and ignored totally to make a surrendering agreement with Hezbollah.”

Netanyahu responded by saying “What a disgrace! What incitement! Our response will be on Tuesday at the election vote.”

After the furious responses to his words, Ben-Barak retracted, stating “I want to clarify – I didn’t and won’t compare anyone in Israel to Hitler. The attempt to present this as a comparison is incorrect and I am sorry if somebody wishes to present it as such.”