Former PM Bennett Defends Alliance with Lapid and Criticizes Smotrich's Military Recruitment Record

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the political party "Together" and former Prime Minister of Israel, strongly denied claims that Yair Lapid, the party's number two, deliberately avoided the election campaign. In a Tuesday interview on 103fm with Gideon and Amichai Etali, Bennett praised Lapid as an excellent Foreign Minister who initiated the Negev conference and successfully brought foreign ministers from various countries. Bennett emphasized that their party offers a clear alternative and knows exactly what needs to be done.

When asked if he regretted the political union with Lapid's Yesh Atid party, Bennett responded firmly that he did not. He stressed the importance of working together with genuine leadership, despite their differing political views, Bennett identifying as a right-wing nationalist and Lapid as a centrist. Both oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in the near future, but Bennett highlighted their shared focus on domestic issues like lowering the prices of yellow cheese and housing.

Bennett recalled their collaboration in two of Israel's best governments in the past two decades, including his own government in 2021, and expressed confidence in replacing the current government with their "most effective team" of former CEOs and ministers who have clear work plans and connect with the Israeli public. He criticized internal political bickering and insisted on focusing on actionable policies.

Regarding the campaign of Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, Bennett dismissed it as "serious nonsense," accusing Smotrich of failing to recruit any soldiers during his four years in office. Bennett argued that recruiting one ultra-Orthodox soldier for regular service frees up 12 reservists, a strategy Smotrich neglected. Bennett admitted that during his premiership, the urgency to expand the IDF was not fully recognized until after the October 7 events, but since then, there is an acute need for 20,000 soldiers.

Concluding, Bennett stated that the long-standing gradual approach and dialogue policy have failed, and his current stance is: "Not Zionist, not on my account."