Bennett Evades Questions on Uniting Behind Eisenkot, Pivots to Haredi Draft Issue

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was questioned on Monday evening about his refusal to unite behind Gadi Eisenkot, the chairman of the National Unity party, despite previously calling for bloc unity. During an interview with Michael Shemesh on Kan News, Shemesh reminded Bennett that in April, when Bennett's poll numbers were stronger, he had stated that a "divided bloc cannot win" and urged other parties to unite behind him. Since then, the political landscape has shifted, with Eisenkot gaining prominence in polls while Bennett's support has waned. In a recent Channel 12 poll, National Unity received 23 mandates compared to 13 for Bennett's party.

When asked why he was now refusing to unite behind Eisenkot, Bennett did not answer directly. Instead, he referenced a recent meeting of opposition party leaders, praising their understanding of the "gravity of the event" and the "danger" facing Israel. Bennett then shifted the conversation to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, stating, "We are currently marching towards national suicide." He elaborated that while he loves the Haredi community, which constitutes 15% of Israeli citizens, they "do not work, do not pay taxes, do not serve in the army." Bennett warned that by the next generation, this demographic could reach 40%, leading to an "irreversible point" if not addressed.

Shemesh interrupted Bennett, stating, "I didn't ask about Haredim." This marks not the first time Bennett has deflected direct questions about Eisenkot by discussing the Haredi draft issue. In a previous interview with Channel 12, when asked if he would recommend Eisenkot for prime minister if he received more votes, Bennett responded that "the public will decide and of course we will respect its decision," before immediately pivoting to the draft, stating that "anyone who does not enlist will not receive a shekel from the state." The interviewer also had to redirect him, saying, "We'll talk about the Haredim soon, but I asked about Gadi Eisenkot."

Despite these evasions, Bennett stated he would respect the public's decision and that "in any way, we will sit together." The competition for leadership within the bloc has intensified recently, with Eisenkot's campaign reportedly working to attract voters from Bennett. Opposition leaders, including Bennett, Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid, and Benny Gantz, recently signed a joint document pledging to replace the current government, calling it their "supreme common goal," despite ideological differences.

However, a report emerged that an initiative for a joint opposition event focused on the October 7th events was canceled due to reservations from Lieberman's office, leading to concerns within the bloc about their ability to unite even on significant issues. Lieberman denied these reports, calling them "nonsense."