Hershkowitz retired from the race: Shas's trio is worthwhile

Turnabout at the new Bayit Hayehudi-Mafda"l Party: Party Chairman, Minister of Science Daniel Hershkowitz, announced tonight (Monday) that he officially retired from the race for chairman of Habayit Hayehudi and expressed support for candidate MK Zevulun Orlev.

"We have come to the decision that with the help of G-d, for the next elections, the Bayit Hayehudi will join leadership with MK Orlev and me," said Hershkowitz. "The party has one chairman, so we decided our candidate for the party chairman will be MK Orlev.

"As to all other matters of leadership, there will be joint decisions on all the main issues of the party, outlining the way, and the division of roles which the party will bear by the national aspect".

Hershkowitz referred to the model of Shas, where it was decided on joint leadership and called for the party chairman candidate, Naftali Bennett, to join him and Orlev: "We challenge Naftali Bennett to join a trio leadership. We will agree from the start involving our mutual concessions. "

Minister Hershkowitz retired after two rivals for the role - MK Zevulun Orlev and Naftali Bennett - applied pressure on him to join their ranks. Hershkovitz's support to Orlev has greatly strengthened the battle against Bennett.

The Bayit Hayehudi's struggle will take place next week.

Habayit Hayehudi officials say, associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, intervened in their party primary election and tried to form a front against Naftali Bennett, due to a conflict between the two, when Bennett served as Netanyahu's chief of staff, when he was head of the opposition.

Bennett declined to comment directly on the allegations of Netanyahu's intervention against him, but told Galei Tzahal Radio: "The Likud prefers a small Mafda"l. They fear an erosion of seats from Likud to the Bayit Hayehudi. I would also be worried if I were in the Likud."

MK Uri Orbach, who is a supporter of Naftali Bennett, wrote on his Facebook page: "Things are merry at the Bayit Hayehudi. Hershkowitz has connected to Orlev, but I'm a good guy and I won't quote what they think and say about each other during the entire term.

"All I will say is that my support for Naftali Bennett, and with the support of tens of thousands, is designed to keep out job politics and personal interests behind.

"Seeing the new testament of the old politics, the need to offer a different form of behavior is sharpened, and one that is not abandoning every value for personal political survival. We will continue with our way to victory in the primaries, because we deserve more."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!