Pinchas Wallerstein is name familiar to many who live in a community in Yehuda or Shomron. He is the retired head of the Binyamin Regional Council, and a former executive director of the Settlement Council. Wallerstein, who lives in Ofra, one of the communities he helped to start decades ago dedicated his life to building Yehuda, Shomron and Gaza. Today he is among the elders of the settlement movement. He joins the growing list of concerned people who feel the need to publically criticize Bayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett.

For Wallerstein it is simple. “You promised voters that you will sit in a coalition with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and now is the time to do just that, not to give excuses why the deal is not working out.” Wallerstein is not a fan of Bennett’s decision to align with Yesh Atid and its leader Yair Lapid to put it mildly. Wallerstein is visibly more comfortable ousted old guard of the National Religious Party.

Speaking with Yisrael Hayom, Wallerstein explains that even if there is tension between Bennett and the prime minister, Bennett must remain focused. “It is wrong to alienate yourself from Eli Yishai and those like him and set Yair Lapid’s entry into the coalition as a condition.” Wallerstein explains that first and foremost is the establishment of a right-wing government, with as much support as the situation permits. He laments the thought of the prime minister having to rest his coalition’s existence on the political left, telling Bennett “This is not why we were created”.

An experienced, player, Wallerstein warns Bennett “you are not going to create a bloc against the prime minister” seeking to explain that this is a feeble and counterproductive effort that hasn’t a chance of succeeding. Wallerstein fears that the actions of Bennett and his party may lead to new elections, and warns “if there are elections as a result of Mr. Netanyahu’s inability to create a coalition then the left has won.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)