Naftali Bennett praises Donald Trump on eve of U.S. midterm elections

MK Dov Khenin of the Joint List: Help Israel by voting vs Republicans

By GIL HOFFMAN
Updated: NOVEMBER 6, 2018 02:18
Education Minister, Naftali Bennett at the Knesset on Monday, November, 5 2018 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Education Minister, Naftali Bennett at the Knesset on Monday, November, 5 2018
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett told The Jerusalem Post on Monday he would not interfere in the American mid-term Congressional elections, but he had praise for US President Donald Trump.
“It’s none of our business,” Bennett told the Post at his Bayit Yehudi faction meeting. “It’s a fully domestic issue, and we won’t interfere.”
But Bennett also told the faction that Trump’s policies were critical for Israel’s future.
“Thank you for giving us your strong back,” Bennett told the faction in English. “Thank you for applying not crippling sanctions, but paralyzing sanctions. Your message is loud and clear: Terror does not pay. Thank you for making the ayatollahs afraid again.”
Bennett also tweeted the statement in English.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Michael Oren (Kulanu), who is from New Jersey, said he does not intend to interfere in the mid-terms but added, “My American family members have told me they are voting Democratic.”
“They appreciate what this administration has done for Israel, but it’s not at the top of their priorities,” Oren said.
Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid and opposition leader Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union) also declined requests from the Post for comment on the American elections.
“We won’t interfere in the US elections,” Lapid said. “The problem of the current government is that there has been too much interference in American elections. This causes damage to Israel and I won’t follow up on those mistakes.”
Joint List MK Dov Henin said he had no problem giving advice to American voters.
“I call on the American public to vote against Trump and vote against racism and antisemitism and for Middle East peace and the future of Israel,” Henin said. “They also have plenty of other reasons to vote against the Republicans as Americans.”