Likud outraged at Kadima pushing protesters'
By GIL HOFFMAN
08/01/2011 21:29

After Channel 2 reports Kadima gave protesters signs critical of PM, Likud accuses party of "cynically using" protests for political gain.

The Likud accused Kadima on Monday of "cynically using" the housing protesters for political gain, following a Channel 2 report that the party had supplied the protesters with signs critical of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

"Bibi, you destroyed, we are sick of you, go home," read signs hoisted at Saturday night's housing rally in Tel Aviv that were underlined by the red stripe Kadima uses in campaign commercials.

The report revealed that Kadima head Tzipi Livni had met with the leaders of the protests on multiple occasions, even though she had made a point of not visiting the tent cities in order to avoid painting the protests as political.

"Kadima caused the housing shortage by refusing to build in the center of the country," a Likud spokeswoman said. "Now Kadima is doing politics on the backs of young people and students. It's unfortunate that Kadima has politicized the protests."

A Kadima spokesman said it was no secret that supporters of several parties on the Center and Left have participated in the protests.

"Kadima will use every stage to deliver its messages against Netanyahu's hard-hearted government of taxes," the Kadima spokesman said. "Kadima didn't initiate the incredible wave of protests across the country against Mr. Taxes, Netanyahu."

At a meeting of the Likud faction, MKs and mayors mocked the protesters. Deputy Negev and Galilee Development Minister Ayoub Kara called them "sushi-eaters" and Nesher mayor David Amar called them "nargila smokers with guitars."