Samaria Official Explains Party Exit Amid Pressure
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Devedi Ben Zion, Deputy Head of the Samaria Regional Council, resigned from the 'Am Yisrael' party due to concerns about its ability to pass the electoral threshold and personal pressures. He admitted to misjudging the party's chances and stated the campaign negatively impacted his family. Ben Zion refused to urge party leader Ofer Vinter to withdraw, stating Vinter would make his own decisions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Devedi Ben Zion resigned from the 'Am Yisrael' party citing electoral threshold concerns.
- Ben Zion stated the political campaign against the party was unexpectedly harsh.
- He revealed the campaign negatively impacted his family and caused him discomfort.
- Ben Zion refused to call for party leader Ofer Vinter's resignation.
- He expressed admiration for Benny Gantz's decision to withdraw from elections.
Devedi Ben Zion, Deputy Head of the Samaria Regional Council, has explained his decision to leave the 'Am Yisrael' party led by Ofer Vinter, citing miscalculations regarding the party's chances of passing the electoral threshold and significant personal pressure. Ben Zion stated that he realized his continued presence in the party would not help achieve its goals and that he could not take responsibility if the party failed to meet its objectives, with the electoral threshold being a key factor. He admitted to misjudging the party's prospects, attributing this to an underestimation of the negative campaign waged against them, describing the political climate as "so stormy."
Ben Zion acknowledged that entering politics requires resilience against attacks and pressure, comparing it to going out in the rain without an umbrella. He revealed that the campaign against him had also affected his family, with his wife facing uncomfortable questions at her workplace from colleagues, causing her distress. He also mentioned that signs posted against him in his residential area created deep discomfort.
Despite the pressures, Ben Zion declined to call for Ofer Vinter's resignation from the race, emphasizing his responsibility was limited to his own decisions. He stated that Vinter, as a serious individual, would make his own choices. Ben Zion also expressed admiration for Benny Gantz's decision to withdraw from the elections, viewing it as a move for the good of the country and a demonstration of unity, even though Gantz faced considerable criticism for joining the government.
