Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, chairman of the Zionist Spirit, is convinced that she will receive the support of the religious-nationalist public that does not identify with the party of Smotrich and Ben Gvir.
In an interview with Sherry Makover-Blikov in the Maariv newspaper, Shaked said: “I am targeting mandates that are right-wing and center-right, who want a functioning government to be established here. who do not want to be in the discourse of ‘yes Bibi, no Bibi’. Housing prices in Nasika, fuel and electricity have become more expensive, and food is on a continuous rise. The traffic jams are unbearable, the health system is poor, and instead of working for the public – all the parties continue to quarrel over ‘yes Bibi, no Bibi’. In my eyes, this discourse of boycotts is destroying Israel.”
According to Shaked, if the ‘Zionist spirit’ is not on the map, there will be a narrow government of the left with the joint, or a government of Netanyahu and Smotrich and Ben Gvir – “that half of the people will feel that this is neither their government nor their country. If we don’t exist, a government will be formed that will inevitably be blackmailed by extremists. No party has 60 mandates, so only we will lead – because they will need us for a broad unity government.”
Her party is finding it difficult to pass the percentage of obstruction, but Shaked is optimistic: “We need to stand up. The forces from religious Zionism have not yet joined us. The Jewish Home wants to join us. We’ll see, maybe we’ll join forces. They really want to. me too. It is definitely something that is on the agenda.”
According to her, “There are many good people who want to join so that the voters can decide what their priorities are. If the priority is for a government without Netanyahu, let them not vote for us. But if the voters want to solve the complication and move forward to a broad government that will function for them, that is only the Zionist spirit.”
What will you do if in the end you do not enter the Knesset and the government? she was asked.
“If I don’t eat anymore, I will get citizenship. It’s not the end of the world. My husband tells me, you are the strongest woman in the State of Israel. Over the years there were maybe two women who were as strong as you, one Golda Meir and the other Tzipi Livni, and I did a lot at a younger age and in a shorter period of time than them. So yes, I have a glorious career, and I made a decision that could very well hurt me in that career. If it will be impossible to continue it, I will go for citizenship. It’s not the end of the world. vice versa. The world is big and wide and full of possibilities.”
In the interview, Shaked tells about the moment when Naftali Bennett informed her about the dissolution of the government. Shaked, his number 2 and loyal partner, was at the time on a state visit to Morocco.
“There was an understanding in the air that we were heading towards an end because of the talks with Nir Orbach, but in the morning I spoke with Naftali on the phone and also with Nir Orbach and it was clear to everyone that this was not supposed to happen yet,” she recalls. “So I went to the airport with a calm heart. I arrived in Morocco and they took us on a tour of the mosque, and while I was barefoot on the carpet in the mosque I saw Naftali’s number on the screen. I said to the guide, excuse me, this is the prime minister, I have to answer, and moved aside. Then Naftali told me about his decision to dissolve the government and what led to it.”
Did you try to dissuade him from this, ask him to wait at least until you return to Israel?
“He was not subject to persuasion, his decision was final. I realized there was no point in talking about anything else, so I hung up the phone. I went back to the guide and he told me, there is a roof to the mosque, you can open it, and he opened the roof for me and told me, look at the sky. It was so surreal. I looked up, a blue, clear sky, and I said in my heart that this is it, the end of the government has come.”
Are you hurt by the way you announced this ending?
“I would have preferred him to talk to me first, to consult with me first, but Naftali did not consult with anyone. He made the decision alone. We knew that the coalition was in its final stages, it was no secret, the only question was how to finish it, how to do it.”
When you returned to Israel, did you tell him what you thought of this conduct?
“I told him. He had a complete answer that I prefer not to share with the readers.”
At least he consulted with you about the decision to retire from political life?
“Yes, he debated with me a lot, then he took time to think. All the party members, myself included, told him to stay, but after two weeks he decided to take a break from political life. It was a very personal decision, completely his.”
You went on a suicide mission together, and in the end Bennett took the gold and left you with a lentil spud.
“Yes, he left me in a difficult and complex political situation, but I am a strong, veteran and experienced politician. In a way, Naftali gave me the leadership and left me the party we started together as co-chairmen.”
Are you mad at Bennett? she was asked.
“I leave the feelings and anger to the private conversations.”