Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu lashed out against Ayelet Shaked, the chairwoman of the URWP (United Right-Wing party), warning voters if she gets over 10 seats, she will recommend a candidate to form a left-wing government. Clearly Netanyahu was implying Shaked would recommend the chairman of the Blue & White party, Benny Gantz, without mentioning him by name, seeking to instill fear in voters to vote for Likud instead of URWP.

The number four man on the URWP list, Naftali Bennet, has responded to PM Netanyahu’s allegations, insisting the party will only recommend that Netanyahu receive the presidential mandate to form the next coalition government and Mr. Netanyahu’s warning is not based in fact.

Using a live Facebook broadcast to get his message out to voters, Bennet stated “I am asked over and over again if the right will recommend Netanyahu for prime minister. I am saying this with the knowledge of my party colleagues. Netanyahu is the candidate of the right-wing and we will recommend him. But he needs an ideological motor at his side. Netanyahu will be the next prime minister, but the question remains as to who will be at his side; Gantz or us”.

Transportation Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who is number three on the URWP list responded differently, preferring to attack the prime minister. “A vote for Netanyahu is a vote for the left” he tweeted.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)