Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel, who remained off Gantz and Saar's list, held an election conference this evening (Tuesday) with the participation of about 300 Shoham supporters - and declared: "I am doing everything to ensure that there are connections, and there will soon be big news. I will not let us reach a six-way election.".
The minister, who is negotiating with Yamina, added: "I hope Netanyahu does not form the next government, I will work hard for that. The dichotomy surrounding Netanyahu is driving the political system crazy. No one is asking anything about risk management in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, governance in the Negev, treatment of minorities or relations between religion and state. It's all Bibi. It's crazy and leads to an election campaign again and again.".
Let us recall that, according to the latest mandate polls, the Yamina faction, led by Ayelet Shaked, will not pass the threshold - even if Hendel joins.
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On preventing reliance on the Joint List - Hendel said: "I am proud that I did not allow a government to be formed that would rely on the Joint List. I opposed it and I still oppose it today, because the list acts against the interests of the State of Israel. I did not oppose it because they are Arabs; on the contrary, I think that Arabs who want to be part of and recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state should be included, but the Joint List is a party that harms this interest and harms coexistence. Those who boycott me for this position are right. I am against partnership with them.".
According to a report in Maariv, the Minister of Communications said about the struggle that the Haredi parties are waging against him: "The Haredi activists are acting in their own service, burdening the public with costs and limiting them. They are turning a blind eye to the discrimination against Sephardic girls in Ashkenazi institutions. These activists are opponents of the Haredi public, not me.".
He told his supporters: "A man came to me on behalf of Litzman and made it clear to me that if I touched on the issue of the Haredi sector's phones, I would be eliminated. 'You will be burned politically,' he told me. I had to decide whether I would take a political risk or ignore it like my predecessors. I decided that I would decide for the Haredi citizens of the country, even though I know that they are not my electorate.""
Sources in Torah Judaism said in response to Maariv: "Arrogance and smugness continue to plague Yoaz Hendel. The man who behaved like a bull in a china shop, kicking, hurting and defaming the Haredi public and its leaders, is currently looking for a political home and cannot find one. With patronage and superiority, Mr. Hendel tried to 'educate' the Haredi and control their values, as if he understood better than us what was best for our children. Today it is clear to everyone that Hendel has become a political burden. Anyone who associates with him cuts off future ties with the Haredi representation.".
