Israel Matzav

Love on the rocks?

A report on the Srugim (Knitted skullcap) website claims that the relationship between Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid is on the rocks, with Bennett calling Yesh Atid undemocratic (link in Hebrew). The two parties are the largest parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition.

Bennett also accused chief negotiator bottle washer Tzipi Livni of living in a fantasy world, saying that the 'Palestinians' do not and will not recognize a Jewish state.

Bennett made his comments in an interview with journalist and former Netanyahu spokesman Yoaz Hendel. This is the second time Hendel has rated a mention in Israel Matzav.

JPost adds:

According to Army Radio, Bennett referred to Lapid as a “dictator” at a political event in Petah Tikva on Thursday. An audio of Bennett’s statements was played on Army Radio Sunday morning.

“We are a diverse party with many viewpoints, not a dictatorship like Yesh Atid or [Avigdor] Liberman[‘s Yisrael Beytenu],” Bennett is heard saying. “[Yesh Atid] is an undemocratic party without primaries, and this is no secret.”

The relationship between Bennett and Lapid has been deteriorating in recent months amid disputes over the diplomatic process with the Palestinians and matters of religion and state.

They have been increasingly critical of each other in closed conversations. Thursday’s remarks were not intended to be revealed to the public. 

I'm shocked. Just shocked. (Not!). And who rushes to Lapid's defense? Of course, his useful idiot. (Quote from previous link).

Yesh Atid MK Dov Lipman came out in defense of his party following news of Bennett's remarks.

"I believe that no other party has the unity, discourse, and focus that Yesh Atid has displayed and will continue to display," he said.

The US-born Lipman said that "it is the greatest honor to serve with such a wonderful group and such an open and fair chairman."

In response to Bennett's allegation that Yesh Atid doesn't hold primaries, Lipman said that the party constitution calls for primaries after the third elections so as to "prevent anyone from hijacking the agenda."

If they last that long.... 

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, coalition government, Jewish Home party, Middle East peace process, Naftali Bennett, Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid party

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:08 PM