Following Blue and White leader Benny Gantz’s statement on Tuesday that he intends to form a secular government if he becomes prime minister and exclude the Chareidi parties because “he’s against extortion,” Chareidi and Likud politicians lost no time in attacking him.

MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Litzman of UTJ published a statement saying, “The cat is out of the bag. After a long period of trying to hide his opinions and even doing all he could to separate himself from his partner Yair Lapid, today it’s clear that there’s no difference between them.”

“Benny Gantz has been revealed as a man without a backbone or values,” the statement continued. “He has no problem dividing Israeli society for a few possible mandates. He’s not suitable for a responsible position. His partnership with Yair Lapid attests to what Chazal says, ‘Woe to an evil person and woe to his neighbor.'”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said: “It’s painful and unfortunate that Gantz was dragged after Lapid and Liberman and chose the path of hatred, condescension and public incitement just to earn votes.”

“You chose to reject your brothers and sisters – hundreds of thousands of Israelis –only because of their faith and lifestyle,” Deri continued. “You’ll bear the personal responsibility for the rift in the nation.”

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Likud MK Gideon Sa’ar wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “The Blue and White rotation deal was canceled yesterday, after Gantz removed his camouflage and officially adopted Lapid’s agenda to rule out entire sectors and their elected officials. Either vote for Likud or Lapid – for the entire term.”

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman had quite a different reaction to Gantz’s statement, apparently viewing the announcement as competition for his party’s agenda of anti-Chareidi dogma. A statement by Yisrael Beiteinu on Wednesday morning said: “It’s known to Yisrael Beiteinu that Gantz’s announcement yesterday was previously coordinated between him and Litzman and Gafni, who waited with prepared reactions which were released a minute after his announcement.”

“It’s clear that those who are most concerned about the increased power of Yisrael Beiteinu are the Chareidi parties and Blue and White, and the cooperation between them only strengthens the true intentions of Gantz following the elections, who already gave carte blanche to the Charedim. The only one who can prevent the establishment of a “halachic” government and exclude the Chareidim is Yisrael Beiteinu.”

Liberman previously wrote on Tuesday that “Gantz and the heads of Blue and White courted the Chareidim for almost three months and suddenly two weeks before elections, Gantz claims that he won’t sit together with them in a government. Gantz’s true dream is to be the defense minister in a narrow government led by Netanyahu with the Chareidim and the Moshiachim” (a reference to the National Religious parties).

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)