Naftali Bennett Shifts Campaign Strategy, Accepts Gadi Eizenkot's Lead in Opposition Polls

Naftali Bennett, leader of the Yachdav party, has adjusted his election campaign strategy after losing the lead in polls to Gadi Eizenkot, head of the Yashar party. Bennett's campaign has decided to stop competing with Eizenkot for leadership of the opposition bloc and instead focus on securing four key right-wing mandates that could determine the election outcome. The campaign believes that internal disputes over bloc leadership are unproductive for electoral success.

Bennett will significantly reduce internal opposition conflicts and avoid personal attacks on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Instead, his campaign will concentrate on government policies, particularly issues concerning the government's relationship with the ultra-Orthodox sector. Bennett's team explained that while aggressive attacks on Netanyahu and repeated references to the events of October 7 resonate within the opposition bloc, they fail to attract new right-wing voters.

The campaign has conducted a detailed mapping of local authorities to identify strengths, weaknesses, and key local issues. Based on this data, Bennett plans to run a focused and "positive" campaign aimed at broader audiences beyond the opposition bloc. His team stated that if this approach helps regain the lead, it would be very welcome, but the current priority remains increasing right-wing support and expanding the bloc.

Recent polls, including one published by Maariv, show Eizenkot's Yashar party holding steady at 22 mandates, matching the Likud party, which has also risen to 22 mandates. Meanwhile, Bennett's Yachdav party has dropped two mandates to a low of 16. The trend over recent weeks shows a consistent rise in Eizenkot's support and a significant decline for Bennett's party.