Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, one of the leaders of the New Right party, met with members of the dati leumi community with elections less than a month away. She explained that while the New Right party is not a religious one, she will continue consulting with rabbis. She added that on a personal note she very much respects what they have to say. It is pointed out to readers that she herself does not maintain an Orthodox lifestyle.

The senior minister’s statements were reported by KAN11 News, explaining she told her audience the party continues efforts to bring back dati leumi votes. Shaked is also quoteed as saying that she appreciates the views of HaRav Chaim Druckman and Rav Yaakov Medan.

“In my opinion, Rabbi Druckman is a great personality and a great asset to the people of Israel and to religious Zionism in general,” she says.

Shaked makes it clear that the New Right party is “not a religious party and certainly the decisions we take on our own,” but adds that “I personally am certain that I will not once or twice, consult with Rabbi Medan and with Rabbi Druckman, as I appreciate their opinions.”

Shaked participated in assembly that was hosted in the Gush Etzion community of Alon Shvut. Rabbi Medan was present as well, and he is quoted saying “It is preferable to vote for Bayit Yehudi, a 110-year-old movement or New Right, but not for any other parties”.

Rabbi Medan admitted he has trouble with the name United Right-Wing because it does not have a hint of being Jewish. However, in his opinion, Bayit Yehudi and New Right are the only options for dati leumi voters. The rabbi used the platform to express his criticism over the decision to bring in the Otzma Yehudit party and then form what is now called the United Right-Wing. “Both parties should appear as sister parties and not as bitter rivals, both of whom are supposed to end up carrying a stretcher and chas v’sholom from fire from another APC”, referring to the machlokes that exists.

At the conference, Minister Shaked praised the members of religious Zionism. She said, “I was exposed to religious Zionism in the army, I served in the Golani Brigade, and from there I have many good friends, and when I joined Bayit Yehudi, they helped me in the first steps.

Regarding dati leumi institutions, “The religious Zionist institutions are important to the entire Jewish people,” she said, “the hesder yeshivas are an important project, and in the previous Knesset I found myself struggling against Elazar Stern, a religious Zionist who has something against hesder yeshivas. Their budget is important because they are important to the entire State of Israel. ”

Rabbi Medan is a rosh yeshiva at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Rabbi Druckman is among the elders and noted posek in the dati leumi community.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)