MK Orit Struk (Jewish Home) received a lot of flak for comments she made after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died last weekend – but the reason for that flak, said former Judea and Samaria (Yesha) Council head Dani Dayan, was less because of offense over the comments, and more over the person who made them.
In a Facebook post, Dayan said that she was attacked for the comments by leftists and even centrists inside and outside the government, simply because many politicians are afraid of her.
In her comments, Struk said that “the truth must be said: Sharon was one of the great builders of the land of Israel, and its greatest destroyer. Someone who knew to defeat terror, and someone who caused all the south of the country to be hit by terror. His great firmness and ability to decide and act enabled him to reach impressive achievements, as well as disastrous processes.
"Alongside our thanks and honor of the great contributions of Sharon to the state of Israel, it is impossible not to also thank G-d, that Sharon was taken from our public lives before he managed to subject the residents of Judea, Samaria and the 'Judea Samaria belt' to the disaster to which he subjected the residents of Gush Katif and the Gaza Strip,” she added.
Dayan said he did not care for Struk's comments, but “I disliked even more the public 'lynch' and massive attacks against her in the media, under the guise of 'criticism' for her comments. For most of the attackers, the comments were just an excuse, attacking not the comments, but the person making them.” The “delegitimization and demonization” she was subjected to, said Dayan, indicates how nervous she makes less outspoken and charismatic politicians.
“Orit Struk is an outstanding parliamentarian – talented, sharp, loyal to her path, and honest. They fear her, and so they decided to 'take care' of her by trying to pull her out of the consensus acceptable personalities. We must not let this happen,” he added. “We need Orit badly.”