Knesset member Michael Biton from the National Unity party announced that he will also fast today, following the disruptions at the Yom Kippur prayer in Tel Aviv, and he called on the public to join him.
Biton wrote yesterday, "For what happened on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, it is appropriate to fast tomorrow. Tomorrow I will fast (only water is allowed) for the division within my people. For the rupture that occurred and deepened within this special and holy day."
Biton added, "I invite you to join this fast. There is nothing more fitting at this time. The mutual responsibility requires all of us to examine how we reached this situation."
It is worth noting that the leader of Biton's party, Benny Gantz, addressed the disruptions of the Yom Kippur prayer in Tel Aviv and pointed fingers at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"For 75 years, a large majority of Israelis have succeeded in reaching agreements on the public space on Yom Kippur, adapting it according to the community. For 75 years, the public managed to respect each other despite their differences and did not bring politics into Yom Kippur. Now, whoever decided to divide us has also violated this holy day with coercion and baseless hatred," said Gantz.
Gantz shifted from his usual statesmanlike tone and accused Netanyahu of fanning the flames of hatred: "And if not the Prime Minister, the greatest inciter of hatred, who chooses now to fan the flames, along with politicians who have decided to turn our public space into a disaster zone. I call on all leaders to take responsibility and stop the rhetoric and actions of the feud."
"To the public, I say, there is logic in allowing the public space to be managed according to the characteristics of the population, and in this case, a correct decision was made, in my opinion, that allowed the Tel Aviv municipality to set the rules."
Gantz concluded with the words: "But more importantly, we must remember that in a place where some are pushing us into a fratricidal war, our mission is to prevent it."
