Orlev and Bannett, the conflict • "We've lost relevance"

In a week's time, fifty-two thousand voters of Habayit Hayehudi will choose their candidate for the party leadership. This morning the leading contenders came for a radio debate on "Galei Yisrael" station, led by Arel Segal and Kalman Libeskind.

First came the most central issue regarding the nature of the party.

Zevulun Orlev said that he wants to maintain the character of Habayit Hayehudi as a sectoral party which appeals to the national religious public. He said, "I invite the traditional and the secular public to take part, but from a distance, since maintaining the national religious character will also help to join the coalition."

"Naftali," Orlev turned to his colleague. "If you and Ayelet Shaked head Habayit Hayehudi, Habayit Hayehudi is not in the coalition. Because of personal relationships, partly because of the political issues. What had just happened on the political level between Netanyahu and Lieberman greatly enhances the need to maintain a religious identity."

In contrast, Naftali Bannett spoke of something new, which should actually be open to all the Israeli public, and promised that such openness will bring back home the youngsters and eastern who abandoned the Mafdal "Ha'askanit" as he defined it, in the past. The NRP alienated very large audiences. Today it is a party with three men, elderly, Ashkenazi, and not in vain did we become irrelevant. Because of that arrogance and perception, that only one who can just might be a "Communar" in Bnei Akiva can join."

A question of experience
Naftali Bannett took the matter one step further and put the responsibility for the decline of the NRP on MK Orlev.

"If a very experienced sales manager,would come to me, he took office with twelve customers, and after three years he went down to nine customers, and he tells me, "but I'm experienced", then three clients -"but I'm experienced ", and then two customers, I would say: "Thank you, you are experienced, not in our school."

Zevulun Orlev did not remain silent and answered: "You're getting into somethin I suggest you do not go down there. Because you know I've never led the list of the NRP."

Another thing that caused a big storm between the contenders is the issue of disengagement and the part each one has in that story. At first Naftali Bannett said: "On the 6.6 a resolution was passed for the expulsion. Immediately, in order to overthrow the government, minister Efi Eitam and MK Yitzhak Levy retired, and the one who remained in the government – is my colleague MK Zevulun Orlev. It was a terrible thing that we with our silence we allowed this thing. "

Zevulun Orlev responded: "You talk about me and you went to be the head of staff for Bibi Netanyahu close to the disengagement, after the disengagement?! Is that called you want to save Gush Katif?".

After a lot of harsh words, MK Zevulun Orlev questionned Bannett regarding their mutual future political way. "Say that tomorrow I will be chosen and let's say that what you say is true, how can you support me, go to meetings and say: you have to choose Orlev."

Naftali Bannett on his part did not miss the opportunity to tease Orlev and replied: "You and Minister Hershkowitz taught me that even if very serious things that are said, you can later on love and embrace each other with common values for the sake of the Land of Israel and the nation of Israel."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!