Bennett Accuses Major Israeli Broadcasters of Boosting Eisenkot

New polls showing a sharp rise for Gadi Eisenkot and his party, Yashar!, at the expense of Naftali Bennett have sparked alarm inside the opposition bloc. In remarks disclosed Tuesday night by journalist Michael Shemesh on News 13, Bennett, who heads the Together party, said in private conversations with his aides in recent days that major Israeli media outlets are running a coordinated political campaign against him.

Bennett said, "Channels 12 and 14 have joined forces to promote Eisenkot." He also argued that Likud and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a clear interest in presenting Eisenkot as the main challenger to Netanyahu, because they see him as a "convenient opponent" who would be easier to defeat when voters go to the polls.

According to Bennett, the key to a change of government lies only with the right-wing camp, and he stressed, "Only a right-wing person can bring the government." He also expressed frustration with the political developments of the past week, saying the right’s attacks on Eisenkot had backfired and effectively helped him instead.

Bennett said the Likud’s negative and aggressive campaign against Eisenkot over the past week is what boosted him significantly in the polls and gave him his current momentum. He concluded by accusing various actors in the system of, knowingly or unknowingly, helping push Eisenkot’s candidacy at the expense of the right-wing alternative he is offering.