In a Facebook post, the chairman of Religious Zionism sharply criticized the right-wing chairman's intention to join a unity government in order to win the prime minister's job • "A prime minister who heads a seven-seat party is illegitimate," Smutrich clarified.
Smutrich and Bennett
Photo:
Oren Ben Hakon - Archive
Right-wing battles: The chairman of Religious Zionism, MK Bezalel Smutrich, published a long and poignant post on Facebook today (Sunday), entitled "An open letter to Naftali Bennett", in which he criticized the right-wing chairman's intention to join the unity government together with Gush The change.
The post posted by Smutrich was written following Bennett's announcement of the possible move in a statement issued last Friday, shortly before the start of Shabbat.
"I read carefully the letter you published to the public," Smutrich began.
"I want to speak for a moment to your heart. From many years of acquaintance with you I know he is in the right place. In your fairness, you put the main thing for you on the table already in the first paragraph. You really want to be prime minister and convinced you can do it well. Legitimate. But what to do That the public was not convinced, and when you presented yourself as a candidate for prime minister, you received a total of seven seats - less than you received in your good days as head of the Religious Zionist Party.
Bennett: I will work to form a unity government // Photo: Knesset Channel
"Already at the outset it should be said clearly: a prime minister who heads a seven-seat party is illegitimate. Even if he personally thinks he can be a great prime minister. It is the destruction of democracy and striving against its most basic rationals. The continued democratic distortion of the private government That we have today, where there is no connection between the public power that is behind any party or politician and the political power that he has in the decision-making processes.
"As I have told you in many conversations we have had in the past, I would be very happy for you to one day be Prime Minister of the State of Israel, but not when you do it with the left and force yourself on the Israeli public, who do not want you yet, through political exercises and cynical and personal interests. "Netanyahu. Your glory will not be on this road."
Open letter to Naftali Bennett.
=========================== Hello Shalom Naftali my friend, I read carefully the letter you published to the public on Saturday night.
I am...
Posted by Bezalel Smutrich on Sunday, April 25, 2021
Smutrich later noted that the reason for splitting the power of his list from that of Bennett before the last election was "when I realized that the goal for you (for Bennett; YS) is to oust Netanyahu as prime minister here and now, even at the cost of dismantling the national camp and returning the left to power.
Everything for you was pre-planned.
That's why you came up with the election strategy - 'No Corona, no interesting'.
This slogan is intended to free you from a commitment to the values of the right and religious Zionism - which can of course only be realized with the natural partners in the national camp - and pave the way for you to form a left-wing government under your leadership.
"If Netanyahu had 61 seats, you would invent countless other reasons why there is no choice and for the benefit of the State of Israel you must turn your back on the national camp and form a government with the left. Now that at first glance it certainly does not make it easier for you. That is exactly what we argued on the eve of the election, and we parted ways through it. "
"Bennett, have no interest in forming a right-wing government?"
Towards the end of the post, the chairman of Religious Zionism wrote to MK Bennett: "Until this moment, no finger has been raised to form a right-wing government. On the contrary, you are doing everything possible to sabotage this possibility. And you know very well what I am talking about. Build the alternative option and convince everyone that it is preferable and not worthwhile for them to come to a right-wing government.
"Naftali, why do you not see the formation of a right-wing government as your task? Why do you not point a finger to help us form it? You are not a right-wing man? You have no interest in forming a right-wing government? Your statements that your first preference is a right-wing government are just lip service. "I think you know the answer very well."
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the right-wing faction this morning, Bennett updated on his actions to form a government.
"The right-wing faction stands united and firmly behind Bennett's policy of forming a government and preventing fifth elections and degenerating into chaos," the party said in a statement.
"The priority is to form a right-wing government first, and at the same time act to form a national unity government. Only if both options are not possible, and after Shimina has made every effort to form a good government in Israel, will we have no choice in the fifth election."
"Even if an 'evacuation government' is formed - it will crumble"
At the same time, the Likud clarifies that they will not replace Benjamin Netanyahu in the party leadership.
"Our answer is simple - no," wrote Minister Tzachi Hanegbi on Facebook.
"We will not replace Benjamin Netanyahu. Not for a year. Not for an hour. And not only due to the fact that Likud members voted for him by an overwhelming majority. Netanyahu is an excellent prime minister and Israel needs his abilities, experience and leadership more than ever. Even if an 'evacuation government' is established here, and I hope not, today it will not be long and it will disintegrate and disappear. Israel".
Against the background of the attempts to form a government, the Labor Party clarified that they are committed to "changing the Netanyahu regime and establishing a stable change government, which will lead to a new political reality in Israel."
A statement from Labor said: "In recent days, the Israeli public has been exposed to briefings and leaks that do not reflect what is happening inside the coalition negotiations, while the mandate to form a government is still with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Negotiations for the formation of the change government are led by our center-left camp. There is a future, Yair Lapid.
From conversations we had with MK Lapid, we believe and believe that Lapid will stand as a solid concrete on the principles of the camp. The public that elected its representatives to the Transformation Bloc trusts the chairman of the major party in the bloc to properly represent the center-left camp.
"The change of Netanyahu's regime is necessary and critical, but the day after the change government that is formed, it is committed to working together and according to the common principles in order to transfer the state budget and bring Israel back to normal."
