Bennett 2026
Bennett 2026 בנט 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Naftali Bennett |
| Founder |
|
| Founded | 1 April 2025 (2025年04月01日) |
| Preceded by | Yamina [1] |
| Ideology | Zionism Economic liberalism [2] Constitutionalism [3] Centrism (self-described)[3] |
| Political position | Right-wing [4] [5] |
| National affiliation | Together |
| Knesset | 0 / 120
|
| Website | |
| bennett2026 | |
Bennett 2026 (Hebrew: בנט 2026) is an Israeli political party formed in 2025 by Naftali Bennett, former prime minister of Israel.
Background
[edit ]Bennett served as prime minister from June 2021 until June 2022 as the head of the thirty-sixth government of Israel, which was a broad unity government that included "centrist and left-wing parties", in addition to an Arab-Israeli party.[6]
Despite the party registration, Bennett has not yet decided as of April 2025 whether his party will run in the 2026 Israeli legislative election. He has reportedly employed two political consultants, one focused on the left-wing and the other focused on the right-wing.[7]
According to opinion polls in late March 2025, Bennett's party would be the largest in an election.[8]
There had been previous reports of Bennett's imminent political return.[1] Gideon Sa'ar had stated in early July 2024 that Bennett intends to returns to politics,[9] while Bennett and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman met that same month.[10]
Registration
[edit ]According to party registration paperwork filed by Bennett 2026 with the Israeli Corporations Authority, the party plans to "restore security to Israel, and restore the people’s trust in Israel’s ability to defend its borders and the interior of the country while implementing an active security concept." The founders of the party include Bennett, "his wife, Gilat", former member of the Communications Ministry Liran Avissar Ben-Horin, former Strauss Group executive Gadi Lesin and Bruria Naim Erman, who is the founder of "PR firm Community Relations." The founding members also include Giora Levi, who was Bennett’s commander while he served in the Sayeret Matkal unit, as well as Ofer Ogash, who previously "ran for Knesset as part of Bennett’s previous party", Yamina, and former Target Market executive Nir Novak.[11]
"The margin of error is very different than if you were the prime minister of Belgium or Sweden, where if you’re a lousy prime minister, maybe the economy will grow slower.
In Israel, the margin of error does not exist."
According to a report by Channel 12, Bennett is expected to retain close control of the party; he will manage the Knesset faction and will remain party leader until 2034. In addition, he will be the only person in the party to select candidates for the party's electoral list, will have the sole ability to choose government ministers, and will control the selection of Knesset committee members. This is in contrast to the thirty-sixth government of Israel, where numerous members of his government defected from it and ultimately brought about its collapse.[12]
The party completed its registration in June 2025.[13]
Organization
[edit ]According to a report by Channel 12, Bennett is expected to retain close control of the party; he will manage the Knesset faction and will remain party leader until 2034. In addition, he will be the only person in the party to select candidates for the party's electoral list, will have the sole ability to choose government ministers, and will control the selection of Knesset committee members. This is in contrast to the thirty-sixth government of Israel, where numerous members of his party defected from his government and ultimately brought about its collapse.[12]
Bennett announced in February 2026 that Tony Fabrizio and George Birnbaum were joining his campaign team.[14]
Slate
[edit ]The following are candidates announced to be part of Bennett 2026's electoral list in the 2026 Israeli legislative election:[note 1]
Together political alliance
[edit ]On 26 April 2026, Bennett and Yair Lapid announced in a joint press conference that Bennett 2026 and Lapid's party Yesh Atid would run jointly as part of a new political alliance, Together, which will be led by Bennett.[4]
Platform
[edit ]On 4 September 2025, Bennett stated at a Kfar Saba conference that he would head a centrist slate of candidates in the 2026 election, potentially including Gadi Eisenkot (Yashar) and Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu), with the goal to defeat Netanyahu's bloc in election and create a Zionist unity government. This government would pursue several major policies, mainly implementing term limits for the position of prime minister,[17] [18] [note 2] creating an Israeli constitution,[3] establishing a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks,[17] and mandating Haredi conscription to the Israel Defense Forces.[19]
In March 2025, Bennett announced that he would not include Arab parties if he leads the next government.[20] In February 2026, he also ruled out serving in a government led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[21] In April 2026, while announcing the 'Together' joint slate with Yair Lapid, Bennett described the party as "right-wing liberal Zionist."[4] Bennett and his party have been described as right-wing by several news outlets.[5] [22]
Military service
[edit ]In January 2026, Bennett presented a proposal called the "Servants Law",[note 3] which would provide extensive benefits to IDF veterans and reservists.[23] He later also promised to establish a commission to investigate what he called the "sabotage of Haredi enlistment", pledging that "everyone who knowingly took part in violating the Security Service Law during wartime will be investigated."[24]
Economy
[edit ]On 12 February 2026, Bennett stated that lowering the cost of living would be a major priority for his government, pledging to "break monopolies, break up cartels, open the market, open exports, imports, competition", and cut regulations to lower prices.[25] He also committed to funding the Israeli Periphery (the Golan Heights and the Negev) with tax cuts, grants, and a plan to double the population within 10 years.[note 4]
Judaism and the state
[edit ]In April 2026, Bennett said that he believed that cities should be allowed to implement their own policies around public transportation on Shabbat. He also said that he would support breaking the monopoly of the Rabbinate on marriage in Israel by allowing for civil marriage.[26]
Notes
[edit ]- ^ The order of the party's list has not been announced, and until then the candidates are sorted by the date of the announcement of their addition to the list
- ^ A draft of his proposed amendment to Basic Law: The Government was posted to his website: https://bennett2026.org.il/hok-yesod-1/
- ^ The proposal was posted to his website: https://bennett2026.org.il/meshartim/
- ^ The proposal was posted to his website: https://bennett2026.org.il/kiryat-shmona/
References
[edit ]- ^ a b Sokol, Sam (1 April 2025). "'Bennett 2026': Former PM Naftali Bennett registers new political party ahead of expected comeback". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Naftali Bennett unveils plan to reform Israel if reelected PM". The Jerusalem Post. 12 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Bennett says government full of 'stupid ministers,' plans to form united centrist party". The Times of Israel . 7 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Sokol, Sam. "Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announce united run under Bennett in 2026 elections". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ^ a b Kershner, Isabel. "Former Israeli Premiers Join in Bid to Oust Netanyahu in Elections". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ^ Sales, Ben (1 April 2025). "Naftali Bennett is back: Former Israeli prime minister signals another run at Netanyahu". Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ Azulay, Moran (1 April 2025). "'Bennett 2026': Former PM Naftali Bennett registers new political party". Ynet . Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ^ Breuer, Eliav (1 April 2025). "'Bennett 2026': Former PM Naftali Bennett registers new political party". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Sokol, Sam (8 July 2024). "Gideon Sa'ar says former PM Bennett planning a return to politics". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ Yerushalmi, Shalom (17 July 2024). "Liberman and Bennett meet in bid to forge new right-wing bloc, but who would lead it?". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ Sokol, Sam (6 May 2025). "Bennett's new party aims to 'restore security to Israel,' draft ultra-Orthodox". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- ^ a b Sokol, Sam (16 May 2025). "To prevent a repeat of defections, Bennett said seeking unprecedented control over new party". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Sokol, Sam (8 June 2025). "Bennett's new political party completes registration process". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ Neev, Keshet; Stein, Amichai (4 February 2026). "Bennett adds Trump adviser, Netanyahu consultants to campaign team ahead of Israel elections". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Bennett names 2 female ex-senior officials as 1st members of party's electoral slate". The Times of Israel. 12 April 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- ^ Sokol, Sam (15 April 2026). "Bennett names 23-year-old reservist activist Yonatan Shalev to party slate". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ a b Sokol, Sam (25 September 2025). "Naftali Bennett says first move as PM would be setting term limit for the post". The Times of Israel . ISSN 0040-7909 . Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ פרוידיגר, דוד (25 September 2025). "בנט מודיע: זה החוק שיעבור ביום הראשון שלי בממשלה". חדשות סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ ירושלמי, שלום (10 September 2025). "בנט תוקף את שרי הממשלה, אבל אין לו מסלול להקמת ממשלה בלי תמיכת רע"ם". Zman Israel (in Hebrew). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ Kraiem, Leon (7 March 2025). "Ex-PM Bennett says he wouldn't include Arab parties, only Zionists, in next government". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
- ^ Eichner, Itamar; Azulay, Moran (17 February 2026). "Bennett says he will not join future Netanyahu government after election". Ynet. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Lubell, Maayan. "Netanyahu's biggest rivals join forces for Israel's next election". Reuters. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ^ Karmel, Ariela (5 January 2026). "Gearing up for election, Bennett unveils 'flagship' proposal upping soldiers' benefits". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ^ Sokol, Sam (30 March 2026). "Bennett vows to investigate "sabotage of Haredi enlistment" if elected PM". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- ^ Neev, Keshet (12 February 2026). "Bennett pledges security focus and cost of living cuts in comeback bid campaign". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Sokol, Sam (20 April 2026). "Ex-PM Bennett backs public transport on Shabbat, civil marriage, sparking Haredi backlash". The Times of Israel.
