Bayit Yehudi party leader Naftali Bennet has given a ‘get’ to partner Ichud Leumi, explaining he will not guarantee slots on the party ticket in the next elections, stating “If they wish to remain with us they will have to run [for slots] on their own”.

Bennet made his comments during an interview with Reshet Bet Radio on Monday 9 Tammuz. Bennet, who began as leader of the former National Religious Party, told Reshet Bet “I wish to open the party to all; including traditional and secular alike and would like another three or four like [Justice Minister] Ayelet Shaked”. Shaked, who holds the number two slot in the party, is not Shomer Shabbos.

Bennet explained “There is not about ideology and I simply say to Betzalel Smotrich and Uri Ariel I respect you both a great deal. You will in my opinion succeed in the primaries if you run”.

Bennet was then asked why he went with the Ichud partnership in the past. He explained there is a big difference between 2013 when they just entered the political arena and today, questioning why Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan has to compete in the primaries or Ayelet Shaked, while Uri Ariel and Betzalel Smotrich do not. Bennet adds that this time around, slots on the party list will not be guaranteed.

The announcement by Bennet adds an additional measure of reliability to speculation that Ariel and Smotrich will be joining with Eli Yishai and his torani Yachad party in the next election rather than remain in Bayit Leumi which seems more interested in attracting non-religious or traditional candidates.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)