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Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked slammed for ‘Fascism perfume’ ad as social media war heats up ahead of election

  • In black and white video, Shaked spritzes herself with scent while whispering her key policies in Hebrew
  • Move appears to make light of criticism of her attempts to restructure Israeli judiciary

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A screen grab from the mock advertisement for ‘Facism’ perfume. Photo: YouTube

A new ad with an elegantly dressed minister using “fascist” perfume drew online outrage on Tuesday, the latest in a social media war ahead of an Israeli election that has also featured a flatulent hippo.

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Israeli law prevents political ads from being broadcast on television until two weeks before the April 9 election, so parties have flooded social media with clips instead.

The elections are expected to be close and social media is playing a part in the campaign as never before.

In the far-right justice minister’s video, she poses in a mock advertisement for a perfume called “Fascism”.

The move appears to make light of criticism – including accusations of fascism – of Ayelet Shaked’s attempts to restructure the Israeli judiciary, which is seen as a barrier to her hard-right agenda.

In the black and white video, Shaked saunters around in slow motion, her hair blowing as soft piano music plays in the background. Spritzing herself with a perfume labelled “Fascism”, she whispers her key policies in Hebrew: “Judicial reform … Restraining the Supreme Court.”

To me, it smells like democracy
Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked

Then, speaking to camera, she seems to suggest the bottle has been mislabelled: “To me, it smells like democracy.”

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