Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) and Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) facilitated the recent spurt of construction in Jerusalem, Arutz Sheva learned Wednesday – after they presented an ultimatum to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over his policies. 

Both Bennett and Ariel told Netanyahu they would only vote for the state budget in the event Netanyahu lifted the de facto building freeze on Jerusalem, noting that several of his policies were not really reflective of the right-wing platform he was elected for. 

While Jewish Home had reportedly threatened to walk over the budget, this is the first time they have been linked to the building thaw, and the first time details had been given about those threats. 

A senior Jewish Home official confirmed to Arutz Sheva that “Netanyahu is now on the right path, after seeing that the sky didn’t fall when he authorized construction in Jerusalem, and we have no doubt that a compromise will also be made regarding construction in Judea and Samaria.” 

Netanyahu finalized tenders for 500 buildings for Jews living in Ramat Shlomo in Jerusalem on Tuesday, and cleared plans to build another 1,000 for Jewish residents in the crowded capital. 

Bennett complained about Netanyahu’s policies at a faction meeting, Army Radio leaked, reportedly saying that “when the Prime Minister supports a Palestinian state – that’s not a right-wing government.” 

Bennett also proudly boasted that Jewish Home is making waves – breaking the building freeze despite the fact that Netanyahu’s Likud has 30 seats, and Jewish Home has just eight.