Likud vs. Erdan and Edelstein: Mutual accusations of being 'fake right-wingers' and stealing votes
Tensions are heating up between the ruling party and two of its former senior members. Likud claims the pair are 'bitter' and working to transfer votes to the left, while the new party responds that the current Likud leadership abandons soldiers' families and perpetuates draft dodging.
The exchange of accusations continues between Likud and the new party established by former movement members Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein. After a war of versions took place on Saturday regarding the reserved spot allegedly offered to Erdan, today (Sunday) Likud published a statement according to which "Edelstein and Erdan are bitter fake right-wingers who are working to steal votes" and transfer them to a left-wing government led by Eisenkot.
Shortly thereafter, Erdan's party responded to the remarks:
"Those who are stealing the votes of right-wing voters are those who perpetuate draft dodging and abandon the families of soldiers and those serving."
The new party's response also included a reference to individuals who supported the disengagement, but its drafters were careful not to mention Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name: "It is important to remember that Erdan and Edelstein are the ones who fought with all their might against the disgrace of the uprooting from Gush Katif, while the current Likud leadership actually supported it."
In the program "Meet the Press" on Saturday, Erdan claimed that he was offered a reserved spot by Netanyahu and that he refused. In response, Likud rushed to deny this, claiming it was "complete fake news."
Erdan, a former minister for Likud and ambassador to the UN, officially launched his new party last week after a long period of deliberation. He is aiming for a right-wing, Zionist, and statist audience that sees importance in enlistment to the IDF. According to Erdan, together with former Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein, they intend to force Netanyahu into a government without Shas and United Torah Judaism, so that it will be possible to lead an equal enlistment law and a series of other issues concerning the ultra-Orthodox society.
At this stage, the new party is not passing the electoral threshold in the polls, but it is only beginning a campaign among audiences whose votes Netanyahu is interested in. Likud likely recognizes that this is a political platform that could attract voters who previously chose them, and in response, they have begun a frontal attack against Erdan and Edelstein.
