MK Yoav Kish (Likud), a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, stressed Wednesday that the conflict between Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Education Minister Naftali Bennett over security was totally avoidable. 

“Minister Bennett has many forums in which to give constructive criticism such as government and Cabinet meetings,” Kish told Arutz Sheva. “But to go and spew slogans to the media is not the right way.”

Furthermore, Kish asserted, “There was nothing significant in his remarks except when he said the purchase of the F-35 was unnecessary.” 

“I do understand this matter and these planes are necessary for Israel’s security,” Kish emphasized. “This is the long arm of the Israeli Air Force and it was a mistake to say Israel should not re-arm them. It’d be good if Minister Bennett stepped back a little from his words. This is not a personal criticism.”

Kish also took the opportunity to praise Ya’alon’s performance as defense minister. 

“Ya’alon maximizes our capabilities,” he said. “We engage in meaningful conversations which have a lot of creativity and thinking outside the best. Things are constantly tested – and what I have something to say, I say it, even criticism.”

According to Kish, despite the difficulty of the current security situation, an extensive military operation will not resolve the terror wave.

“[An operation like] Defensive Shield is not relevant to the current situation,” he argued. “The situation is difficult, we are at war. We need to ensure these terrorists end up with a bullet between the eyes – and if they manage to evade this, then security forces should pull them out of bed and bring them to trial.”