Following harsh criticism from both the Likud and the Left, Naftali Bennett, head of the Bayit Hayehudi party, went on offensive against the attacks on his statements regarding his personal inability to expel Jews from their homes in the case of another “Disengagement”.
Bennett said that he is not calling on soldiers to refuse orders, which he also clearly said in his original remarks.
He said that, as a soldier, he personally would be incapable of fulfilling an order to uproot a Jewish settlement or an Arab village.
On Channel 10, Bennett then went on the offensive against the Likud and Netanyahu.
Bennett said that the fact that the question even arises on election eve as to whether or not the Likud would have soldiers, once again, expel Jews from their homes, says it all. And the Likud would do it, he claims.
In response to Netanyahu’s statement, “Whoever refuses orders to remove settlements will not be in my government,” Bennett responded, “Mr. Prime Minister, is the reason you said that because you are planning on removing settlements in your next administration?”
A number of Likud ministers and MKs have attacked Bennett, but with the exception of Moshe Feiglin, none have yet said they would not expel Jews if given the order to do so.
The Likud sees HaBayit HaYehudi as their biggest threat in the upcoming elections.
It’s easy to see why.
The original interview:
Saturday night’s followup:
Moshe Feiglin on Bennett and refusing orders: