“The zigzaggy conduct of Naftali Bennet is classic opportunism, and the public will judge him for it, his plan is nothing but empty spin,” said on Monday Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, head of the “Jewish Home” Knesset faction, during an online event held at the website of TheMarker.
Hershkowitz was referring to the candidacy of MKs Zevulun Arlov and Naftali Bennet, and quoted an opinion piece published last weekend by Makor Rishon’s pundit Sofia Ron-Moria, where she quipped that she “won’t buy a used car from Bennet or Orlov.”
In regard to the party, Hershkowitz noted that “the Jewish Home is not a sectoral list. Rather it is a movement that has something to say on every subject, but I see no contradiction between a general look and a concern for the National Religious sector which today carries this country on its back. And there is no other party that looks after the needs of this public.”
He noted that when he was called to head the party, three years ago, he did it in order “to usher it into becoming a wider and bigger movement that would have a say in every area of life, and at the same time take care of the needs of the National Religious public.”
In regard to the struggle between the Jewish Home and the Likud, Hershkowitz stressed that “The Likud is not concerned with religious education. The Likud was the leading partner in bringing about the Haredization of the religious courts, conversion process, religious councils. The social and national values of the Likud are not necessarily rooted in Jewish Heritage.”
According to the Kippa website, the Bennet camp responded to the above attack by saying that “Rabbi Professor Hershkowitz has a lot of good qualities and we appreciate his work.”