Naftali Bennett Warns Against Divisive Election Campaigns in Israel

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yachdav party, held a rally with hundreds of residents in Ganei Tikva on Tuesday evening, sharply criticizing divisive election campaigns that fracture Israeli society. Bennett warned that hostile foreign actors, including Iran and Qatar, invest billions in toxic influence campaigns aimed at sowing discord within Israel. However, he emphasized that the greatest damage comes from internal political campaigns, stating, "What the Iranians and Qataris fail to do to us, some within Israel are doing themselves."

Bennett's remarks come amid a steady decline in Yachdav's poll numbers over recent weeks. The joint list with Yair Lapid has lost about 12 Knesset seats in the past two months. Bennett called on Israelis to prevent the upcoming elections from turning into a civil war, urging that the focus should be on how to fix the country. He concluded with a pledge: "Together we will fix Israel, and I am committed to that."

The comments were made during a turbulent election season, with recent polls showing a tight race at the top. A recent survey placed Gadi Eizenkot's Yashar party as the largest with 24 seats, followed by Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud with 23 seats, and Yachdav in third with 15 seats. Sources close to Yachdav's campaign stressed full cooperation and confidence in the joint leadership but warned that if the downward trend continues, they might consider dissolving the partnership.

Bennett also addressed the crisis in Bnei Brak, criticizing the emergence of an autonomous ultra-Orthodox enclave within Israel where laws are not enforced. His remarks highlight ongoing challenges within Israeli society and politics as the country approaches a critical election.