Internal polls commissioned by Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked before they formed the New Right party last December failed to give them the slightest indication that they might fail to pass the vote threshold to enter the Knesset. In fact, the findings seemed to indicate just the opposite. The polls showed that the “Bennett and Shaked” brand had a hardcore base of four seats comprised of ardent supporters who would follow them to whatever party they chose. The general assessment was that they would walk away from the April 9 elections with 8-10 seats. In reality, the New Right suffered a devastating defeat at the ballot box.

There can be no doubt that Shaked and Bennett were the tragic heroes of this past election because they were at the height of their political activism when they fell. They were two hardworking young ministers with an agenda who labored tirelessly at their respective ministries, him at Education and her at Justice. Their seats on the Security Cabinet gave them status and power, and it looked like they would be with us for many long years to come.

People could love or hate their agenda. Quite a few people, including many who admired them, thought that their populist attacks on the judicial system and their calls for a more aggressive campaign in Gaza went too far, forcing supporters of the moderate right in the Likud to adopt more extreme positions. To their credit, however, it must be said that they were active politicians and were untainted by the slightest whiff of corruption. Based on reactions on social media, even their critics regret their departure, as they evoked interest, adding color to Israeli political life, and had no qualms about challenging the system.

It was Bennett who spearheaded the initiative to form the New Right. Shaked had had reservations. She was concerned that leaving their home party, HaBayit HaYehudi, to strike out on their own might be too risky. Bennett, however, insisted. He wanted to push forward, full steam ahead, on an independent path that would lead him to the Prime Minister’s Office, and he wanted to do it without being held to account by the rabbinic leadership of HaBayit HaYehudi.