MK Yonatan Shalu, founder of the reservists' advocacy group Katef el Katef and the youngest member of the 26th Knesset, addressed his entry into political life in an interview with Channel 13 on Tuesday, responding to the social-media attacks against him and acknowledging his fear that he may be forced to compromise on his promises to voters as coalition talks proceed.
Shalu, who was elected on the Yachad (Together) list led by Naftali Bennett, arrived at the Knesset after three years of lobbying in its corridors as a private citizen and protest activist on behalf of reservists. Now, as a member of Knesset, he pledged to continue the fight from inside the legislature.
"I am going to be the voice of those who serve in the coming Knesset, and I will make sure at every decision point that we do not steamroll those who serve — and I mean that," Shalu declared in the interview.
He said the principles his party presented to voters are clear and there is no reason they cannot be implemented. "Our principles are very clear and not complicated to implement. I don't like to deal with hypothetical questions. There is a goal and it needs to be achieved, along with the principles we presented to the voter," he said.
Shalu went on to attack the outgoing government's treatment of reservists: "There is a government here that did not take care of reservists, that passed laws that harm reservists. Any other government will not do that. We are a party with 11 reservists."
But Shalu's entry into the Knesset has also been accompanied by a campaign of criticism on social media over the past two weeks, in part following his party's decision to refrain from media statements until the coalition negotiations are complete.
MK Meirav Ben-Ari, his colleague in the Yachad faction, came to his defense and admitted that at first she doubted his suitability for the role.
"At the beginning I didn't understand why we need a young kid here who hasn't done the mileage in his life, but the more I saw him, saw him speak, the enthusiasm — there is something in him that is very accessible," she said.
Ben-Ari also warned him of the attacks to come in the political arena: "He projects that he has values, that he has a worldview. He is the flag of the reservists, he is mission-driven. You are going to get hit here with bombs, slaps, there will be evil here for no reason, wallah, he doesn't deserve it. I will always be behind him."
