Jewish Home party chairman Naftali Bennett has hailed the emerging results of yesterday's party primary elections, and expressed his confidence that his party would one day lead the Government of Israel.
Speaking at a press conference, Bennett echoed the sentiments of other party MKs, stating the party had "made history."
"Tens of thusands of members went out in the rain and in the cold in order to give us their faith... to vote for us and support us. And we won't let them down," he promised.
Bennett expressed his pride and confidence in the diverse range of candidates elected to top spots in the Jewish Home's list for next Knesset, noting in particular the juxtaposition of the secular Ayelet Shaked and former Tekuma member Rabbi Eli-Ben Dahan taking the top spots.
"If anyone would have told me two years ago that (the) number one elected (candidate) would be Ayelet Shaked, a secular woman from Tel Aviv, I wouldn't have believed it," he said, remarking on the changing face of the religious-Zionist party.
Equally, he continued, "if someone would have told me that at the top of the list we would have Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, who was born in Morocco, grew up in Beersheva, became a field commander in the military, and spent his life taking care of the weakest people in our society and bringing the people of Israel to the Torah, to Judaism, I wouldn't have believed it."
"Let me be clear: the day is near that the Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) party will lead the State of Israel," he vowed.
"Only the Bayit Yehudi opposes a Palestinian state. Only the Bayit Yehudi voted against letting free terrorists and murderers, and pushed through a bill that will forbid that (happening) in the future.
"Only the Bayit Yehudi party cares about creating a Jewish identity for the young people in Israel."
Ending with a reference to the three traditional pillars of religious-Zionism, Bennett concluded: "We love the land of Israel, we love the people of Israel, we love the Torah of Israel - and we're proud of it."