Right-wing backlash erupts over Bennett’s remarks on West Bank farm evacuations

A sharp backlash erupted on the right after former prime minister Naftali Bennett made recent remarks about the expected evacuation of agricultural farms in Judea and Samaria. The criticism was led on Tuesday by Bet El council head Shay Alon, who said Bennett had now fully abandoned the national camp and the ideology he once represented.

Alon opened his response by saying that the “transformation from secretary-general of the Yesha Council to abuse and displays of alienation toward the settlers of Judea and Samaria has been completed,” referring to Bennett’s earlier public role in the settlement leadership. He argued that Bennett’s current statements, unlike his campaign messages before the 2021 election, finally reveal his real views.

“Unlike the lies he told his voters on the eve of the 2021 election, it seems that this time Bennett is finally saying the truth in his heart,” Alon said. He added that Bennett, together with what he described as his strategists from the far left, is openly signaling how he intends to hurt the Israeli right and the “heroes of the generation” among settlers and farm residents in Judea and Samaria.

Alon also linked Bennett to other center-left figures and their possible ties with Arab parties. “I am in favor of Bennett continuing to bring out the ideological pus he is harboring inside and joining his future friend Eisenkot, who has already said that if he fails to reach 61 seats he would be happy to be supported by Ra’am, Balad, Hadash and Ta’al,” he said. He concluded sarcastically, “Ah, these are the people of spirit and uprightness that the Israeli left has raised for him after October 7. Truly ‘great pride.’”