Bennett Says He Would Join Under Eisenkot if It Helps Oust the Government

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday on 103FM that he would be willing to serve under Gadi Eisenkot if that helps build a stronger political alliance and replace the current government. Asked about the possibility of sitting under Eisenkot, Bennett said, “I have nothing but respect for Eisenkot, we will sit together in a government, the public will decide, I will do anything in the world to replace this very bad government, I will do everything and I will not let ego be a factor.”

He also urged the leader of the Yeshar party to “go into a room and not come out until there is a merger.” Bennett invoked Yosef Trumpeldor, saying that when asked what he would do for Zionism, Trumpeldor answered that “if a wheel is needed, I will be a wheel.” Bennett said the polling decline does not surprise him, adding, “I see the polls, I am aware of them and I do not deny them. I fight every day to gain the public’s trust. We need to lead moves on a Ben-Gurion scale, otherwise we do not have a state.”

On reports that he and Yair Lapid might split their partnership, Bennett denied any rupture and said, “Lapid and I speak every day. I stand by my claim that only if we run united will we win.” Earlier Tuesday, Lapid called the reports “fake news from anonymous sources, this is their way of trying to hurt everything that threatens them.”

The remarks came after a Channel 12 poll last week showed, for the first time, a tie between Bennett’s united party and Eisenkot’s. A deeper survey aired on “Friday Studio” found that among the general public, 33% think Eisenkot is better suited to be prime minister, compared with 21% for Bennett. Among anti-Netanyahu voters, 48% preferred Eisenkot and 27% preferred Bennett.