After the mutual clashes and the parties’ attempt to “walk on each other’s heads”, the heads of the “Right” and “National Union-Resurrection” party, Naftali Bennett and Bezalel Smutrich, met by chance today (Tuesday) at the Givat Shmuel shopping center.
The two exchanged polite smiles and patted each other on the shoulder, despite quite a bit of bad blood being shed between them in recent days, culminating in Bennett’s statement that “there is no chance Smutrich will not pass the blocking percentage” and that according to internal polls he gets six seats. Bennett added: “This is called the ‘Guald technique’, which means to scare you about something that is not real. The truth is that it is simply not true, his party passes without any problem and you can vote for us.”
Smutrich, in response, addressed the chairman of the Central Election Commission, Judge Uzi Vogelman, but this forbade religious Zionism to respond to Bennett’s statement. “The real figure is 4.5 seats from the internal polls.”
Political sources said that the purpose of the program is to try to compare the number of seats of religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smutrich to that of the right-wing party led by Naftali Bennett, and if possible – even bypass it. This is to crown Smutrich as the leader of religious Zionism in Bennett’s place. “Smutrich in Netanyahu’s pocket,” the same sources said, “therefore Netanyahu prefers to return to the days when he had complete control over the people of religious Zionism.”
It was also revealed that as of Saturday, a coordinated Gevald campaign has begun, in which members of Religious Zionism and the Likud will send messages that there is a danger that Religious Zionism will not pass the blocking percentage. To save the right-wing bloc and allow this combination it is necessary to vote Smutrich.
It was estimated that this would move about a seat and a quarter to the right to Smutrich, which would place him at about 6.5 seats. In the second stage, there is an understanding between Chabad members and some ultra-Orthodox courts to order their people to vote for religious Zionism, thus reaching 7.25 seats. The sources also note the armor of Smutrich’s associate, Ofir Sofer, in 28th place in the Likud, “Religious Zionism will receive another seat as a gift from the Likud.”