Key Bennett Campaign Aide Quits After Just Three Weeks
Oz Siminovsky, a religious Zionist media figure, had recently left his role as editor of the Shabbat bulletin Hador in order to join Bennett’s election operation. The move drew criticism at the time from those who argued that the publication had effectively served as early campaign material for Bennett.
Communications adviser Oz Siminovsky announced Tuesday that he is leaving Naftali Bennett’s Together campaign, only weeks after joining it.
Siminovsky, a religious Zionist media figure, had recently left his role as editor of the Shabbat bulletin Hador in order to join Bennett’s election operation. The move drew criticism at the time from those who argued that the publication had effectively served as early campaign material for Bennett.
Now, after only a short period inside the campaign, Siminovsky said he is ending his work there.
“A small announcement is needed here,” he wrote on Facebook. “A few weeks ago, I went in to provide service to Naftali Bennett’s Together party. I will note: a local and modest service, in the field in which I have known how to provide service for years. I have finished my service there. It was fun, and the team is full of excellent people.”
Siminovsky said the experience made clear to him that it is difficult to work in a professional political role while also maintaining an independent public media profile, especially while promoting a political thought book of his own.
“One of the many things I learned there is that it is very hard to do a professional political role when you have a media profile of your own, and certainly when you are promoting a political philosophy book,” he wrote. “It created some challenging days for me.”
He thanked both supporters and critics, saying the criticism was also part of the experience.
“I am full of gratitude to those who strengthened and encouraged me, and honestly also to those who gave it to me over the head,” he wrote.
Siminovsky said he would continue expressing independent political opinions and would not give immunity to any politician.
The departure comes as Bennett’s Together party, formed with Yair Lapid, is trying to consolidate its campaign operation ahead of the coming election while facing pressure from Gadi Eisenkot’s rising Yashar party and calls for broader opposition unity.