National Union 'considering future' with Bayit Yehudi
Rift over party's ideology and character could lead to a split; Bennett confronted with Minister Ariel: 'Want to split, let's split.'
The National Union faction, part of which merged with Bayit Yehudi during the 2013 elections, said Monday that it was considering its future in the party over disagreements with Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett.
The rift could result in a split in the far-right party that holds 12 seats in the Knesset.
Representatives of the National Union were late to the Bayit Yehudi faction meeting on Monday, which led to a loud confrontation between party leader Bennett and Housing Minister Uri Ariel.
"I won't allow this, you're late on purpose," Bennett shouted. "Want to split, we'll split." Bennett later decided to leave the meeting.
Bayit Yehudi will hold primaries for the faction's leadership on January 5, 2015 – one day after the Likud primaries.
National Union officials said Bayit Yehudi recently held meetings on the guiding lines to the party's ideology, as well as negotiations on party appointments in case Israel goes to early elections.
On Monday, however, the National Union said the teams who were entrusted with formulating Bayit Yehudi's campaign platform failed to reach an agreement. As a result of that, the National Union held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to run with Bayit Yehudi in the next elections, or run in another format.
The National Union officials said the emergency meeting was held over what they defined as "stalling" by Bayit Yehudi leader Bennett and the cancelation of meetings on fundamental issues.
Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel is the only National Union representative in the government. The National Union's MKs are Orit Strook, Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan and Zvulun Kalfa.
Sources in the Bayit Yehudi said in response that "Uri Ariel is a serial party-hopper and this conduct of making threats is unacceptable. Minister Bennett will not concede to threats to split the party along the lines of: 'Save us six spots or we'll split.' Those willing to put themselves up for the democratic vote of the public is welcomed to it, this is true unity."
National Union officials then lashed back: "Bennett is afraid of discussing the character and values of the party. He'd rather split the religious Zionism camp and sell out its values and the settlers just so he could scrape together a few extra votes from Yair Lapid."
