At campaign event, Shaked apologizes for joining the previous government
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked apologizes to her supporters, and to right-wing voters in general, for having joined the outgoing ideologically diverse government, but insists that she always upheld right-wing policies in that government.
Speaking at the campaign launch for the Jewish Home party she now leads, she blames the establishment of the right-center-left government on Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich and New Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar for failing to agree on terms for a right-wing coalition led by former premier Benjamin Netanyahu.
Jewish Home is struggling badly in the polls and will not enter the Knesset according to the latest surveys.
“I believe that you will find a place in your hearts to forgive me,” says Shaked, adding that she knows her decision to help form the last government “broke a million hearts” and “deeply hurt” her supporters.
Shaked also calls on right-wing voters to look at her record in the government, and points to what she described as several successes such as “the Palestinian issue having dropped off the agenda,” reforming the justice system and advancing right-wing economic policies.
