Bennett lashes out at Netanyahu

Habayit Hayehudi chairman accuses PM of launching offensive against national religious public, says 'it reminds me of what was done to you after Rabin's murder'

Yuval Karni|Published: 01.19.13 , 21:42

Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of launching an offensive against the national religious public in an unusually harsh statement at Channel 2's "Meet the Press."

"Mr. Prime Minister, your name is on this campaign and it reminds me of what was done to you after Rabin's murder when you were linked to a demonstration in Ra'anana which involved a coffin portrayed as Rabin's coffin," Bennett said.

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The Habayit Hayehudi leader accused the prime minister of "launching an ugly campaign against the national religious public of unprecedented proportions. He takes a person likes Moti Yogev, a company commander at Sayeret Matkal, a battalion commander at the Paratroopers' Brigade and makes him out to be narrow minded."

Directly addressing Netanyahu he added, "Do you really stand behind this rift you have created at the expense of the amazing national religious public, how do you do it Mr. Prime Minister?"

נתניהו ובנט מככבים יחדיו בקמפיין "הבית היהודי"

Netanyahu alongside Bennett in Habayit Hayehudi campaign

Bennett said that Netanyahu has caused "historic damage" by alienating a public "that twice made him prime minister. (Netanyahu) has made a terrible, moral mistake."

Often criticized for including many extremists in his list, Bennett stated he was very proud of his party members.

The Likud-Beiteinu said in response, "With his hysteric performance, Bennett tried to divert attention away from his list and to that end he was willing to embarrassingly attack the prime minister, whom he himself put on his billboard ads. It's sad that to hide his list and mislead the public, Bennett is has stopped so low."