Against the backdrop of his party's decline in polls: Naftali Bennett gave a series of interviews today (Thursday) in which he harshly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lashed out at the ultra-Orthodox, about a year after his last interview with the Israeli media.
Shas described the interview he gave to Channel 12 as a "panicked performance" and claimed that Bennett arrived for the interview equipped with an earpiece through which his advisors dictated to him to incite against the Haredi.
""Bennett arrived for the interview equipped with an earpiece, in which the advisor yells at him over and over: 'Haredi,' 'Haredi.' It's sad that this is what he has to sell to the people of Israel in the midst of a war - continued incitement and creating a rift in the people.".
Shas added: "The man who formed a government with Mansour Abbas and the Muslim Brotherhood dares to criticize Netanyahu for security and victory. Embarrassing. Even in the opposition bloc they realized he was a joke.".
Likud responded to what it called Bennett's "hysterical interviews" from today: "Bennett's word should not be believed. Bennett has already promised not to give the premiership to Lapid - and he did. He pledged not to sit with the left - and he sat. He swore not to form a government with the Arab parties - and he did. He will do it again. Every vote for Bennett is a vote for Tibi, Abbas, and the Muslim Brotherhood.".
Minister May Golan: "On the day we lost two heroic and martyred warriors, the Muslim Brotherhood's natural partner, Naftali Bennett, embarks on a spectacular round of interviews in studios - not to strengthen the spirit of the people, but to suppress it and sow defeatism.".
""Naftali, last time you pledged and signed on live broadcast that you would not sit with Mansour Abbas – and in the end you poured billions into him without supervision or control, with some of this money also reaching murderous criminal organizations in the Arab sector.
So tell us – in what way do you intend to discredit the voters' ballots this time?""
Bennett stated in an interview that he will not form a government that relies on the Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties, and made it clear that he intends to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. He said he leads a bloc of about 60 seats and does not intend to enlist the support of ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
He added that the ultra-Orthodox leadership is tying up the young people and that the reality of "we will die rather than be drafted" must end.
On the political front, Bennett revealed that about six months ago he offered Gadi Eisenkot the second spot on his list. Bennett estimated that Eisenkot would eventually join the party, but emphasized that he would not give up the first spot. "I am the only one who can replace Netanyahu,",
Bennett ruled out any possibility of a meeting with Netanyahu and pledged that the Arab parties would not be partners in the government he would form. "I will form a Zionist government," he said, "a government that relies on Zionist parties. I am in a bloc of 60 seats grosso modo and I have a few more surprises. I think this time I am suggesting to the other side to keep its wings. Ask Netanyahu how he will form a government based on 38 Zionist seats.".
Ben Gvir and Smotrich are also disqualified from ruling under him: "Anyone who wants to dismantle the State of Israel will not be. And today Ben Gvir is dismantling the State of Israel, dismantling the police. This thing is terrible, it goes against all values. So it's not based on personality, but on actions. Smotrich has become more of a Goldknopf than a Goldknopf. He is the architect of the evasion law.".
However, he reserved: "If Smotrich cancels all the tax evasion activities he promotes, returns all the funds he gave to the evaders, and cancels these stupid quarrel laws - then ask me that again.".
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