Reactions poured in from all across the political spectrum following Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked's shock announcement that they will leave the Jewish Home party to found a new slate titled Hayemin Hachadash (the 'New Right')/
Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev (Likud) said that "Bennett and Shaked have abandoned the Jewish Home and tricked Religious Zionism".
"I call on Religious Zionists: Come to the right-wing party. Vote o
nly for the real and large Likud party, which has room for religious and secular Jews," declared Regev.
Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern said that "It's a pity that only after Netanyahu stopped caring about Bennett and Shaked, who contributed greatly to the segregation of women, religious coercion and the rift with Diaspora Jewry, did they remember the importance of cooperation between the religious and the secular. "
National Union Chairman Uri Ariel called Bennet's decision "a mistake" but said the departure "is an opportunity to establish a strong party of Religious Zionism."
Zionist Union MK Yoel Hasson said that "extremism remains extremism- Bennett is [Jewish Home MK Bezalel] Smotrich and Smotrich is Bennett."
"There is nothing new under the sun, it's the same extremist leadership that has hurt Israeli democracy and has given a hand to trying to turn Israel into a dark country.," said Hasson. MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) said that Bennett's new party "will not hide the fact that this is still an ultra-conservative and racist party whose goal is still annexing the West Bank and destroying the Zionist vision through a bi-national state "
