Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel spoke with Kol Chai Radio on Sunday morning 24 Adar, addressing a number of issues. Ariel stated one of his regrets pertaining to the outgoing administration is that while his office did a great deal of building and can show many accomplishments, he wished to have accomplished more in Yehuda, Shomron and Yerushalayim.

When asked to comment on the upcoming elections, Ariel stated that Yachad will receive four or five seats according to the polls. He agrees with pollsters that one of the parties that will lose votes to Yachad is Bayit Yehudi. Ariel explains that both Eli Yishai and Baruch Marzel have announced their union is a technical one strictly for the purpose of elections and that Marzel will split off following elections. Ariel added that Marzel has stated he will not enter a coalition with PM Binyamin Netanyahu and therefore, Yachad will only have 3 or 4 representatives, not enough to make any significant impact on events. Hence, he urges voters to come back to Bayit Yehudi where the additional seats will make a difference on influencing the next administration. He explains construction in the areas mentioned was halted due to a building freeze imposed by the prime minister and a stronger more powerful Bayit Yehudi party is needed to prevent a reoccurrence in the 20th Knesset.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)