UTJ MK Asher: Liberman’s campaign will motivate ultra-Orthodox voters - The Jerusalem Post

Posted: 08 Sep 2019 11:46 AM PDT

UTJ MK Yaakov Asher, 2019.. (photo credit: JEREMY SHARON)

United Torah Judaism MK Yakov Asher said that Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman's campaign against the ultra-Orthodox community is the best possible get-out-the-vote campaign the ultra-Orthodox parties could wish for.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Asher said Liberman's ongoing attacks against the policies of the UTJ and Shas parties was bolstering voter motivation within the sector, and called the Yisrael Beytenu leader "a hypocrite" after he sat in several coalitions with the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties. Despite a perceived apathy in the general population toward the second election in just over five months, Asher said that Liberman's focus on the ultra-Orthodox community was making it impossible for them to ignore the election.

"The ultra-Orthodox community won't be apathetic because unfortunately, this election campaign is not dealing with big issues, such as security or the economy," the MK told the Post on Sunday. "It's just a competition between a few parties who need a few more seats, and all their fire is being directed toward the ultra-Orthodox community in its entirety.

"From our point of view, they are doing the best campaign possible for us, because you can't be apathetic when you see parties using motifs of hatred against you. It seems like this will get everyone out to vote."

Asher said that Blue and White co-chair Yair Lapid was chiefly responsible for the assaults against the ultra-Orthodox community, and that Liberman and lately Benny Gantz, Lapid's co-chair, had taken up this baton.

"Gantz has now woken up and seen that Liberman is stealing these seats, and so they're trying to steal those seats back by using this incitement against the haredi community," said Asher.

Asher also alleged that Liberman had never intended to enter a coalition with Likud after the April election, regardless of whether his bill for ultra-Orthodox military service was passed in its original form.

"More than one of Yisrael Beytenu's MKs told me their problem was with how [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu was disparaging Liberman, and that Liberman had decided to take him down, full stop," Asher said. "They said 'You [the ultra-Orthodox] are not the issue here, you're just part of the game. Wait and you'll see after the election everything will be OK.'"

Asher said he would even take a polygraph test to confirm the veracity of his claim.

In response to a request for comment, a spokesman for Yisrael Beytenu said, "We do not respond to nonsense."

Asher repeated the frequent promise of UTJ MKs that the party would only recommend Netanyahu to form the next government, saying that the partnership between the haredi parties and the prime minister had been mutually beneficial over the years.

"We have a partnership with Likud and the prime minister," he said. "We worked together during the last Knesset term. We had various issues, but in general this partnership is good for the Jewish people in general. The haredi community does not sit all day and try and topple the prime minister. It gives him operational quiet to allow him to work. The partnership has been good for him and good for us."

'Basketball Wives' Season 8, Episode 12 Recap: 'Deception Indicated' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 02:32 PM PDT

After last week's episode of Basketball Wives ended with Jackie sad and upset about a lie detector test, it was evident that the divisions within this group would only grow wider. The whole debacle about a leaked concussion story had the ladies wondering if she was trying to pin fake injuries on Malaysia, and somehow, Evelyn convinced Jackie to take a polygraph.

During episode 12, tensions continued to build, shadiness kept everything overcast, and there were a few surprising resolutions. Here's a rundown of what happened in the latest episode.

OG and Jackie Christie of 'Basketball Wives' | Robin Marshall/Getty Images

Kristen is still bothered by the Byron-CeCe disconnect

She was mostly just bothered about the rift with Byron. Kristin and her husband, Thomas, discussed meeting with his father to try to fix things. Kristin got sentimental, saying things like she'd love it if Byron could see Kenzi do ballet.

Later in the episode, Kristin met with Malaysia and discussed the Jackie drama, of which Malaysia is over. She's done. Kristen brings up the Byron situation, again.

She was hurt about it and acknowledged that she was wrong, then tells Malaysia that they invited Byron over to apologize for her words. Without CeCe. Malaysia tells her that it's disrespectful to leave out the woman he loves. Kristin does not think anything is wrong with that move.

"You're being dismissive to someone he loves, and that's disrespectful."
Is Kristen having a dinner without inviting CeCe the first step to healing their family dynamic, or will it only do more damage? #BasketballWives pic.twitter.com/gjUkIo5vP8
— Basketball Wives (@BasketballWives) September 5, 2019

OG is ready for a change, Shaunie and Evelyn have girl talk

In a different scene, OG wants to be a football coach for a women's team. The coaches want to take her seriously, but questioned if she can be a mother, psychologist, and everything else that's required to keep a team intact.

Meanwhile, Shaunie and Evelyn met and chatted about Jackie's lie detector test. Whew. They couldn't figure out why Jackie was upset with Malaysia for confronting her at the skating rink. They're confused about the whole beef. After rehashing that, they talk about their non-dating lives then plan to try out a high-end matchmaker.

Jackie gets pep talks from two different friends

Jackie hung out with CeCe and told her about her planned podcast, media moguldom, and Evelyn's polygraph surprise. CeCe told her the test was malicious, getting in Jackie's head about her friendship with Evelyn and comparing it to her experience with Malaysia and Kristen. CeCe also stated she can't forgive Kristen for saying Byron is distant from their family.

In a separate meet, OG told Jackie about her retirement party and plans to coach. Jackie spoke about her roundtable podcast and who to invite. OG questioned Jackie about inviting Feby. She said she didn't want to deal with her, but she wanted to apologize to Jennifer for ruining her event by trying to fight Feby. Feelings are hurt about who's friends with whom.

Later, OG is in her element during a coaching tryout and receives good pointers from the existing coaches. They compliment her on getting the team to "buy into the system."

She's struggling with the idea of not playing anymore but believes that becoming a coach will help her stay connected to a game she loves. It looks like it will be a good thing for her.

Podcast apologies

It's a podcast ponderosa. In a one-on-one moment, Jen sat down with Jackie to call out her behavior at the Sip-n-Shop event, saying it was distasteful.

Jackie apologizes for her actions and there are no hard feelings. Once the podcast starts, Jen apologizes to CeCe for being judgmental in the past and fueling the drama with Kristen. They made up!

Things fall apart again

Though CeCe was upset that Kristen didn't invite her to dinner, Byron didn't show up anyway. He went to a baseball game instead, and Thomas feels like it was just a matter of schedules not syncing up.

Really, it was mutual pettiness. In another frame, CeCe was reminded that her family has her back and she should be excited about her wedding.

The episode closed out with Jackie and Evelyn meeting for a meal. Jackie, mad that Evelyn didn't come to her podcast event, became extra mad about what OG told her about Evelyn and Feby's conversation. The she-said-she-said story about Evelyn giggling over her and Jackie really being friends irked her.

She's also mad Evelyn had her take a lie detector test (couldn't she have just refused?). That's three reasons Jackie was angry, and she told Evelyn it hurt her to the core.

Evelyn's response was that OG is the root of their problems and OG needs to get a job or sit down. And no, Ev did not apologize about the polygraph.

Heading into next week, there looks to be some issues with OG's retirement party and more tension with Jen. Tami makes an appearance to remind everyone why she is staying clear of these ladies and the constant drama. Stay tuned.

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