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Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has formally registered a new political party under the temporary name “Bennett 2026,” fueling speculation that he is preparing for a return to the political arena in the next national elections.
Bennett, who previously led the right-wing Yamina party, has been out of office since 2022 following the collapse of his broad coalition government.
His administration, which brought an end to Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure as prime minister in 2021, was marked by an unprecedented alliance of ideological rivals.
The registration of Bennett’s party was met with approval from political figures such as National Unity chairman Benny Gantz and opposition leader Yair Lapid.
Lapid, who served alongside Bennett in a rotation agreement as prime minister, took to social media to voice his support, stating that “Israel needs a good government.” However, the move also drew criticism from members of the Netanyahu government.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi shared a cartoon mocking Bennett, depicting him picking up figures opposed by the current administration, including Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Bennett’s return to politics has been a subject of speculation for months. Reports from Channel 12 last September indicated that the former prime minister had been in discussions with over 100 former activists about forming a new party.
Additionally, he has held meetings with opposition figures such as New Hope chairman Gideon Sa’ar and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman.
While no formal alliances have been confirmed, Liberman suggested that a joint run could be considered if polling data indicated an electoral advantage.
Bennett has hinted at his political aspirations, particularly in light of the ongoing security and political crises in Israel following the October 7 attacks.
In a social media post commemorating the anniversary of his tenure, he called for a return to a “broad unity coalition” that would prioritize national interests over political divisions.
“Today more than ever, the unimaginable reality in which we have been living since October 7 requires a leadership that knows how to unite the people and do the most basic thing that a government should do: put the interest of the State of Israel first,” Bennett wrote.
Despite his previous coalition including the Islamist Ra’am party, Bennett has indicated that a future government under his leadership would not include Arab parties, emphasizing the need for a “Zionist” coalition.
Recent polling suggests that Bennett could pose a formidable challenge to Netanyahu. A Maariv poll last week showed that a hypothetical Bennett-led party could secure 27 seats in the Knesset, compared to Netanyahu’s Likud, which polled at just 19 seats.
A separate Channel 12 survey indicated that 38% of respondents preferred Bennett as prime minister over Netanyahu, who garnered 31%.
A source close to Bennett, speaking anonymously to The Times of Israel, emphasized that while registering the party is a significant step, it does not constitute an official campaign launch.
The source likened it to an “exploratory committee” in U.S. politics, noting that Bennett has yet to establish campaign infrastructure or finalize a candidate list.
With the 2026 elections still on the horizon, Bennett’s next moves will be closely watched as Israel’s political landscape continues to evolve.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members