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Bennett Open to Netanyahu as Minister; Coalition Partners Reject Idea
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sparked a political uproar on Sunday, October 11, 2026, by stating he would allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as a minister in a future government led by him. Speaking at election conferences ahead of the October 27 election, Bennett, whose party was variously referred to as Achad, Beyachad, Yamina, or Bayit Yehudi, said he would not object to Netanyahu holding a ministerial post if he accepted core principles. These conditions include establishing an immediate state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks, universal military conscription, and drafting a constitution for Israel.
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What happened
- 01Naftali Bennett stated he would allow Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as a minister, but not prime minister, in his future government.
- 02Bennett conditioned Netanyahu's potential ministerial role on accepting universal conscription, an immediate October 7 inquiry, and a constitution.
- 03Opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan swiftly rejected any government role for Netanyahu.
- 04Journalist Michael Shemesh noted that Bennett's proposal appears to disregard the legal precedent preventing indicted individuals from serving as ministers.
- 05Bennett criticized the current government's handling of ultra-Orthodox enlistment, calling the situation a live-broadcast, slow-motion suicide.
- 06Bennett accused Netanyahu of previously freezing Jerusalem construction under US pressure and altering the Jerusalem Day march route due to Hamas threats.
- 07The political dispute over Netanyahu's future role comes just over two weeks before Israel's election on October 27.
Bennett's remarks drew immediate and fierce condemnation from other opposition leaders in the Change Bloc. Gadi Eisenkot, identified as chairman of the National Unity, Yesh Atid, or Yishai party, declared that anyone in leadership on October 7 is unfit for command or any ministerial role. Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman demanded Bennett retract his statement, vowing that Netanyahu would not serve in any capacity in the next government. Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, also firmly rejected any cooperation, stating his party would not sit in any government that includes Netanyahu.
Critics and commentators also raised legal and political questions regarding the proposal. Journalist Michael Shemesh noted that Bennett's statement appeared to disregard the Deri-Pinchasi precedent, which legally disqualifies an indicted individual from serving as a minister. Shemesh suggested the move was an attempt by Bennett to leave the door open for a deal with Netanyahu and avoid breaking future election promises.
In his speeches, Bennett also criticized the current government's policies, calling the Haredi draft situation a live-broadcast, slow-motion suicide. He accused Netanyahu of funding draft evasion for political survival and of previously acceding to US pressure to freeze construction in Jerusalem. Bennett contrasted this with his own tenure, during which he insisted on holding the Jerusalem Day flag march along its original route despite threats from the terrorist organization Hamas.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 7 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: i24NEWS. Read i24NEWS’s original
The coverage
11 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- Left1
- Centre4
- Right3
- Haredi2
- ArabNone
- Other1
