Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett lashed out at Likud on Sunday
saying the party should "man up" and put its name on its campaign,
referring to unsigned adverts accusing him of supporting refusing military orders.
Since Bennett made controversial statements on the matter Thursday night, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon and other top Likud leaders have taken turns severely criticizing Bennett. The Likud even published unsigned advertisements accusing Bennett of being irresponsible in two newspapers.
"They want to spread slander about me? No problem - but don't do it anonymously," Bennet said. Meanwhile, Likud admitted that it was behind the campaign.
Likud Knesset candidate Moshe Feiglin lashed out at his own party's strategists on Sunday for their campaign
“I don't understand the campaign against Bennett, which I think helps him at Likud's expense,” Feiglin said. “I am concerned that the campaign will send the votes of crocheted kippot [religious Zionists] to Bennett.”
Feiglin, who is 23rd on the joint Likud-Yisrael Beytenu list, suggested that Netanyahu was bashing Bennett because he did not want the Rightist Bayit Yehudi in his coalition.
A longtime supporter of refusing orders to evacuate settlements, Feiglin said he was upset that Bennett had scaled back his initial comments on the issue and started “giving excuses after finally making a principled statement.” Feiglin said he would not his views on the matter.
“I will still try to express my point of view, knowing it's not the dominant view in Likud,” Feiglin said.
Feiglin published a statement on Facebook and Twitter explaining that he always supported conscientious objectors on the Left and Right who were ready to accept serious punishments to follow their conscience.
“The idea that every soldier and citizen must adhere to every order and law in any situation goes against the concepts of Judaism, freedom, and democracy,” Feiglin said. “Especially in a Jewish state, it is important to remember what happens to people who do not listen to their conscience. Conscientious objectors do not make the army or the state come apart. The opposite. They set ethical boundaries and create a society that is more ethical and stable.”
Jpost.com staff contributed to this report
