Smutrich attacks Ben Gvir: Your run will be a revenge campaign that will drain many voices

The Minister of Transport attacked the Chairman of Jewish Power, who said he was running for election, "jeopardizing the people of Israel, the teachings of Israel and the Land of Israel," and mentioned his agreement with the Jewish Home Chairman: "Your signature has resulted in the saga of the last few weeks." Peretz: "I broke my word, sorry about that with all my heart"

Smutrich attacks Ben Gvir: Your run will be a revenge campaign that will drain many voices

Transport Minister and National Union President Bezalel Smutrich on Thursday attacked powerful Jewish chairman Itamar Ben Gvir, who remains outside the right-wing parties. "Your run now will be a mere revenge campaign, which will drain many voices and could endanger the people of Israel, the teachings of Israel and the Land of Israel," Smutrich wrote on Facebook. "Call your supporters to vote for any party you want in the right, but don't throw votes in the trash for the sixth time."

The union was signed about an hour before the registration of candidates at the Knesset, following a series of meetings between the new right-wing speaker Naftali Bennett and the chairman of the Jewish House Rafi Peretz. Smutrich mentioned the agreement that Ben Gvir signed with Peretz - which last night breached his promise for him, leaving Jewish power outside the Union. In his post, Smutrich said he understands Ben Gvir's sense of betrayal and his party members, but "you were part of the 'political exercise' that Rabbi Rafi did on the head of the National Union."

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Ben Gavir said that "your running now will be a mere revenge campaign." Smutrich (Photo: Ohad Zugenberg)

Bezalel Smutrich at a government meeting, November 17, 2019 (Photo: Ohad Zugenberg, Paul Photographers)

"If you speak your language then you would have shared his 'betrayal' with us in the first act. What about you because we hung up on his betrayal in you in the second act?", He added. "If political exercises are legitimate and the purpose is dedicated to them, it can not only work when it serves you. I try very hard to act differently in my political work. But you have acted this way and only now are paying its price."

Smutrich added that "your signing with Rabbi Rafi has thwarted my efforts and many others to bring about a merger and democratic elections and has largely led to the saga of the past few weeks."

He called on Ben Gavir to give up his party in the elections. He said, "This is your time to prove that you are working for heaven and not for ego and revenge." Smutrich mentioned the Green Party MK Autumn Shafir, who was retiring, saying she "found herself in a similar situation and showed responsibility for her camp." You must not expect at least from her. "

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Remained outside the religious right union. Ben Gvir (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Itamar Ben Gvir in the Knesset after the Union in the right-wing parties, January 15, 2020 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Peretz today expressed regret for his decision to violate the agreement with Ben Gvir. "The decision was made with a heavy heart. Nobody wants to keep his word," he wrote. "I have given my word and violated it. I am sorry about that with my whole heart. Leadership needs to make a decision even if there is a heavy personal cost on its side. Say it clearly: For the sake of the people of Israel and the Land of Israel, I was ready for my public image to be harmed."

Peretz explained that the agreement signed Tuesday morning between the new right, Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, and the National Union headed by Smutrich, "left us with painful choices: to run individually and run the risk of blocking a block or running jointly without power." It is clear that he is not ready to reunite with Ben Gvir, so we have a separate run. "

He said he was invited by Bennett to a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who showed him many in-depth surveys in which the unification of the Jewish home and Jewish power failed to pass the blockade. "I had to make a difficult and unpopular decision contrary to my promise and a complete contradiction to the inner integrity that accompanies me throughout my life. I had two options, both of which have a big, heavy price: independent running with a very high risk of not passing the blocking percentage or a powerful run," he said. .

Rabbis Druckman and Eisman also influenced his decision, "expressing their views unequivocally that they should run jointly with the new right despite the agreement with power," and Idit Silman's joining the new right. "What was at stake is the establishment of a left-wing government," said Peretz, who added: "The decision last night was difficult on a similar scale - what faced these mirrors of deportation of Jews and the risk of failure to block a blockade and the collapse of the right-wing bloc was forbidden. Religious, Jewish identity and the Land of Israel are here on the scales. In this connection we saved religious Zionism. "

"Nobody wants to keep his word." Peretz (Photo: Reuters)

Rafi Peretz at Government Meeting, January 12, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

Earlier, officials in the vicinity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called on Ben Gvir to step down from the race. "Now Prime Minister Ben Gvir expects, with all the difficulty, to retire from the race to secure right-wing rule. In addition, they claimed that the prime minister praised Peretz's leadership, "despite the heavy personal cost he acted and minimized Bennett's damage to the right bloc and saved votes for the bloc."

With Jewish power, they responded to Netanyahu's request that he would not preach to the party or harm it. "Jewish Power The only party that will not sit down with Gantz - show responsibility and do not try to hurt us," a statement on her behalf said. They also made it clear that the prime minister also knows that Jewish power is the only party that will not betray the left-wing bloc. "The prime minister also knows that only Jewish power will not betray the right-wing bloc and enter the government of Gantz.

(Update first: 18:05)