Bennett and Eizenkot Hold Secret Talks on Political Alliance

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot held a secret meeting last Saturday to discuss a potential political alliance ahead of the upcoming elections. The talks are ongoing but have not yet materialized, primarily due to reservations within Eizenkot's camp. They are concerned about the significant political damage Bennett sustained after his alliance with Yair Lapid in the "Yesh Atid" party.

With the deadline for party list submissions just four days away, Eizenkot's associates aim to create the impression of a large, unified party to challenge Avigdor Lieberman. However, the memory of Bennett's political decline following his partnership with Lapid has led to caution, with an assessment that "one plus one equals less than two" in terms of poll numbers. A final decision is expected at the last minute.

These developments are impacting other political players. If Chili Tropper decides to join Eizenkot, Yoaz Hendel might also be reconsidered for the list. Meanwhile, "Blue and White" insists on running independently and is seeking to absorb unaligned politicians. The "Yesh Atid" party is experiencing internal turmoil, with MK Michal Shir announcing her departure, marking the eighth Knesset member to leave the party in this election cycle. This follows departures by other senior figures like Meir Cohen, Mickey Levy, and Karin Elharrar.

Political insiders describe the situation in "Yesh Atid" as a collapse, stemming from the fact that Bennett's previous alliance left only about four to five viable spots on the party's list. This leaves veteran Knesset members without realistic positions, and the resignations offer them an "honorable exit" before the lists are finalized.

Separately, former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who has been courted by several parties, reportedly rejected an offer for a reserved spot on the Likud party's Knesset list. Kahlon is not expected to return to the political arena in this election cycle.