After the announced coalition deal between Bayit Yehudi and Likud, party members are waiting to see who Naftali Bennett will appoint to serve as Deputy Defense Minister. The top candidates are Moti Yogev, a retired IDF colonel and Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, the party’s former Deputy Minister of Religious Services.

Members of the Bayit Yehudi Central Committee have sent a letter to Bennett calling him to appoint Yogev, who they feel is the most qualified for the post. Tens of central committee members signed the letter.

The signatories of the letter cite Yogev’s military experience which he amassed during his 23 years as a soldier and officer in the Paratroop Corps and Sayeret Matkal. Yogev is also a graduate of the IDF’s National Security College and has served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)