Bennett Vows Change Bloc Will Cooperate Without Ego

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yamina party, addressed his campaign headquarters late Tuesday night, presenting the preliminary election results as a victory for the bloc aiming to replace the current government. He claimed the "evasion coalition" had fallen from 68 to 50 Knesset seats, while cautioning that final results could alter the picture. Bennett's campaign saw fluctuations, beginning as a leading candidate for the "change bloc" but later positioned as number two to Gantz, with aspirations to return to the prime minister's seat.

After a dip in polls, Bennett's party saw an increase, peaking at 15 seats. Preliminary exit polls on election night showed his party receiving 11 seats according to Channel 14, between 12-14 seats in other polls, and an optimistic 15 seats from i24. In his speech, Bennett urged supporters to "hold their heads high," declaring, "The people of Israel have spoken: Netanyahu has lost and the October 7th government will go home!" He characterized the outcome as a victory for the "alliance of servants" over the "alliance of evaders."

Bennett stated that leaders of the "correction bloc" are already in communication and coordination, pledging to work towards forming a new government. "We will do everything, without ego, to establish a Zionist alliance of servants, a government of doers, that will manage the country responsibly and serve all the people of Israel," he said. He also promised to bring the spirit of his "parliaments", direct street conversations with the public, into the Knesset and national leadership.

Bennett further vowed to ensure Israel's wartime sacrifices were not in vain, aiming for national unity and strength against external enemies, concluding with "The people of Israel live!"