MK Betzalel Smotrich on Monday evening announced he was aware of Naftali Bennet and Ayelet Shaked’s planned break from Bayit Yehudi in advance to launch the New Right party.

According to a Chadashot News report released by Yair Shariki, Bennet and Shaked notified Smotrich of their planned break two days in advance, and religious news editors were invited to participate in a meeting on Thursday to discuss matters with Rabbi Chaim Druckman during which Smotrich objected to their planned move.

Smotrich explains that he was summoned by Rabbi Druckman to express his opinion, and he objected, citing the move would result in destroying the religious Zionist camp, and the establishment of the new right-wing party would endanger the future of the right-wing bloc in Knesset.

He adds that following that meeting, he understood the two have decided to cancel the planned break, and this is why he was so surprised on motzei Shabbos, when the two announced the establishment of the New Right party during the press conference.

Smotrich added that “unlike Bennet and Shaked, who abandoned and bailed out, we will continue on the path, upholding the values of the dati leumi nationalist camp towards combating terror without compromise, the strengthening of settlements and the preservation of the Jewish identity of the state.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)