Smotrich Attacks Bennett for Letting Rightwing Bloc Disintegrate

Photo Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Transport Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday morning tweeted that “dismantling the rightwing bloc would be an irresponsible folly, which would result in the establishment of another Oslo government – the last time it was established it caused catastrophes.”

Smotrich continued: “New elections are a bad thing, but the dissolution of the right and the establishment of an Oslo government are much worse. The bloc’s leaders should integrate the message: the barrier to establishing a unity government is Gantz’s insistence on disqualifying Netanyahu, rather than unity on the right.”

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Smotrich was responding to Naftali Bennett’s grandstanding comments Saturday night on Meet the Press, when the New Right party’s leader said: “I release Netanyahu from any commitment to me and to the New Right – just let him cobble a government.”

Bennett also addressed the situation in the South, saying that “Israel is in a national emergency. The necessary root canal treatment in Gaza must not be postponed for a long time, concurrent with blocking Iran’s circle of missile around Israel. Israel must not embark on a third election round that would paralyze us and prevent urgent security and civilian measures. Everyone, Netanyahu and Gantz alike, must compromise and form a government as soon as possible.”

Bennett addressed the rumors that Netanyahu is considering appointing him to a ministerial position in his transition government. Asked if he could be appointed defense minister, Bennett said: “I was not offered the job, but if I were offered – I would not turn it down.”

Bennett then obeyed the same martyr’s impulse that lost his Habayit Hayehudi party 4 mandates to Netanyahu in the 2015 election, and said: “If I am a barrier to forming a government, I will release Netanyahu from any commitment to me and would be ready to remain in the opposition. The main thing is to set up a government now, as soon as possible. I release Netanyahu from all his commitments to me and to the New Right, just let him cobble a government. There’s a state of emergency, it’s not a laughing matter.”