Likud officials: Naftali Bennett is having side talks with Benny Gantz

The comments come in response to a tweet issued yesterday by the defense minister in response to Netanyahu's speech.

By ARIK BENDER/MAARIV
Naftali Bennett at a ceremony at the education ministry (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Naftali Bennett at a ceremony at the education ministry
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Likud officials sharply attacked Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday, saying he was "having side talks with Benny Gantz." According to the sources, "Bennett is trying to hitch a ride on the sovereignty program that Prime Minister Netanyahu brought about through three years of work with President Trump. His statements only jeopardize the application of the sovereignty that Prime Minister Netanyahu promotes in coordination and agreement with the Americans. "
"While Bennett is having party talks with Benny Gantz who will depend on Ahmed Tibi [to form a government], the mapping is already underway and sovereignty will be completed in no time," the officials added.
Sources in Yamina responded saying, "It is unclear to us that Netanyahu's eagerness to shoot inside the tank and attack his most natural partners in the present and future - religious Zionism. We have no intention of being drawn into this discourse. We will continue to lead a positive and substantive campaign, demand sovereignty here and now, and advance the important interests of the State of Israel in security, law, education, Jewish identity, transportation and more. "
The comments come in response to a tweet issued yesterday by the defense minister in response to Netanyahu's speech. "There will never be a more opportune moment to apply sovereignty in our country," wrote the new right-wing chairman.
"I urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to bring the application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria to an immediate vote in the government," Bennett added. "Prime minister, we will be on your right! Without sovereignty, we will get a Palestinian terrorist state whose capital is Jerusalem. "
The day before, the Minister of Immigration and Absorption, Yoav Galant (Likud), attacked Bennett, saying that "Hamas has been sending dozens of explosive bombs at Israel over the past two weeks - this is a terrorist act and a dangerous escalation. It turns out that those who have dispelled ruthless words in the past, and in essence lack of understanding and inexperience, suffer from [a lack of] understanding the situation and providing an appropriate response. The cabinet allows the defense minister to act differently, the situation should and can be changed, I know that. "