Feiglin: Bashing of Bennet will cost Likud votes

Likud candidate says bashing of right-wing rival will only send "crocheted kippot" [religious Zionists] votes to Bennett.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Moshe Feiglin 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Moshe Feiglin 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Likud Knesset candidate Moshe Feiglin lashed out at his own party’s strategists on Sunday for their campaign accusing Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett 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 in two newspapers accusing Bennett of being irresponsible.
“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 “making excuses after finally making a principled statement.” Feiglin said he would not hide 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 for acting in accordance with 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 cause the disintegration of the army or the state. On the contrary, they set ethical boundaries and create a society that is more ethical and stable.”