Jewish group files complaint against radio broadcaster

Anti-religious discrimination organization files complaint with police against Gabi Gazit, who called haredim, settlers 'leeches, parasites' during radio show last week

Kobi Nahshoni|Published: 04.25.10 , 15:14

Haredi public fights back – Representatives of the "Jerusalem association for equality", a haredi public group fighting against religious discrimination on Thursday filed a complaint with the police against radio talk-show host Gabi Gazit, the radio station management and the Second Authority for Television and Radio, in which they claimed Gazit's remarks about haredim being "parasites", "leeches" and "worms" that must be sent out of the country were calls of incitement.

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In the complaint, Gazit is blamed for comitting four offences: revolt, incitement to revolt through publications, hurting religious feelings and racist sedition. Plaintiff Moshe Sorek said during a conversation with Ynet that the interrogators took the complaint seriously and told him that Gazit, who is currently out of the country, will be summoned for questioning upon his return next week.

Last week, Gazit slammed the haredim during his "Non-Stop Radio" talk-show and said, "Stop sweeping their streets, cut off their electricity and water, let's give up on their taxes (which they usually don't pay). They are useless; they don't produce anything, don't contribute anything, they don't plant a tree or a tomato, don't manufacture high-tech.

"They are parasites of the worse kind, and as far as I am concerned – if it was realistic – I would pack them up in one package and send them to their primitive brothers in the dark courtyards of Brooklyn, Queens and all the other places they should live in; let Americans handle them."

Gazit continued his harsh criticism and said, "They should live there, in their medieval darkness, or here, surrounded by walls and isolated from the State of Israel. They can burn flags as they wish, disgrace IDF soldiers as they wish, and finally leave us alone. Let us run a modern, moral country without their distorted lifestyles. We have one country and in this country only people who love it should live. We have no country for them."