Bennett Rejects Poll Panic, Urges Eisenkot Union and Slams Netanyahu

Yamina? No, Together party chairman Naftali Bennett used a press conference to address speculation that his new party, Yachad, could collapse after recent polls showed a downward trend. He said he is not denying the polling picture, but insisted he will “do everything in the world” to replace what he called a very bad government.

Bennett said ego would not guide him, and argued that his experience as prime minister, defense minister, education minister, and an entrepreneur makes him the right person to lead major national change. He said he can “look Bibi in the eye and beat him,” and that the next election will be won by a right-wing candidate with liberal views.

He called on Gadi Eisenkot, his main rival inside the change bloc, to join forces, saying the two should “sit down, see the relative advantages, see how to win big,” and “not leave the room until there is an alliance.” Bennett praised Yair Lapid as a “wonderful” partner, said they talk every day, and argued that only a united bloc can defeat Benjamin Netanyahu. He added that Netanyahu benefits most from opposition fragmentation.

Bennett also said voters from Likud strongholds, from Kiryat Shmona to Beersheba, tell him every day to save them. He said the country must spend the next four years making the biggest moves in its history, including changing ultra-Orthodox education so students learn math and English. He said he needs public trust to do that, but that he is not blind to the polls.

Turning to Netanyahu, Bennett said his premiership began with the 2023 civil rift, continued through the “worst massacre in Jewish history,” and is ending with a severe failure against Iran. He said Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs are still advancing, that the struggle will take years, and that Israel must strengthen itself internally instead of remaining divided. He repeated that the internal “war of brothers” also contributed to October 7. Bennett also revisited the brief handover from Netanyahu, saying it lasted less than half an hour and left him without clear answers on Iran and special munitions, which he said took two to three more years and billions of shekels to develop.