A day after announcing that he would not join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fifth government, Yamina leader Naftali Bennett intensified his attacks on the incumbent prime minister.
"Netanyahu has fragmented the right-wing bloc," Bennett said, reiterating his attack on the prime minister's refusal to give Yamina prominent portfolios in the government, which is set to be sworn in on Thursday.
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"We were loyal to the Right, not to any specific individual, and Netanyahu's Likud has decided to make us irrelevant. If Netanyahu does not want us inside that is fine, but if Netanyahu gives the Justice Ministry to the Left, we will be a fighting opposition," Bennett said, attacking Netanyahu's plan to give Blue and White, the large left-wing alliance, most of the important portfolios as part of a long-term deal involving a rotating premiership with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.
"If the prime minister extends sovereignty on Judea and Samaria's communities, we will back him on that, but if he does not, we will be an effective Right," Bennett warned.
A Likud official dismissed the accusations and told Israel Hayom: "It is sad that because of Yamina's infighting over portfolios, they are willing to join the Left in the opposition. Netanyahu is now pursuing a historic move to apply sovereignty on Judea and Samaria and rather than take part in this, Bennett is capitulating to an internal political battle."
