Naftali Bennett
Israel
Bennett 2026
chief executive officer
government
Naftali Bennett is an Israeli politician and businessman who served as the prime minister of Israel from 13 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, and as the alternate prime minister from 1 July to 8 November 2022. Bennett was the leader of the New Right party from 2018 to 2022, having previously led the religious Zionist and far-right political party The Jewish Home between 2012 and 2018.
Standing...
Stories...
Aug 10, 2026
Far Left
The former prime minister is in the news for hinting at a political comeback and being discussed as a possible unity candidate in a new election.
Hadash remembers his record of annexation plans and anti-Palestinian legislation, so any return is seen as another chapter of right-wing dominance.
Aug 9, 2026
Far Left
He has surged in polls and announced his political comeback, eating into Netanyahu's right-wing base.
Hadash is wary of Bennett, a former settler and annexationist; his rise may simply replace one hawk with another while keeping the occupation intact.
Aug 6, 2026
Far Right
He became the target of Eisenkot's swipe after advancing the push to declare Qatar an enemy state.
Religious Zionist voters see his tough talk on Qatar as convenient politics from a former prime minister who once built a coalition with Ra'am and the left.
Aug 6, 2026
Center
At the Ynet conference, Bennett announced he would declare Qatar an enemy state, a move Eisenkot rejected as an election gimmick.
Yesh Atid sees this as irresponsible populism that cheapens serious security decisions and distracts from the coalition's actual failures.
Aug 5, 2026
Center
He unveiled new additions to his party list, including Bruria Naim, Esty Kovb, Orly Harel and Olesya Kantor, bringing the number of women to 17.
Yesh Atid views Bennett's aggressive list-building as an attempt to capture center-right voters and reduce Yesh Atid's path to leading the next government.
Jul 30, 2026
Center
Potential split with Lapid if the Democrats party grows, affecting the composition and strategy of the change bloc in upcoming elections.
Yesh Atid sees Bennett as a rival within the same camp, and notes that unity is needed to defeat Netanyahu but is threatened by internal competition.
Jul 28, 2026
Far Right
Bennett sharply attacked Qatar at the INSS conference and pledged to declare it an enemy state if he heads the next government.
Religious Zionism praises Bennett for his firm stance against Qatar, aligning with the national camp's security-first approach.
Jul 28, 2026
Center
Bennett said he would declare Qatar a hostile state and revealed intelligence on Qatari funding of Iran's IRGC.
Yesh Atid welcomes Bennett's tough stance on Qatar but remains skeptical of his political reliability.
Jul 23, 2026
Lean Left
Returns to politics with a new centrist party platform focusing on security and economy.
Though from the right, left observers see potential for a broad anti-Netanyahu coalition if he distances from far-right allies.
Jul 21, 2026
Far Left
The former prime minister has largely withdrawn from politics but occasionally comments on coalition extremism.
Hadash views Bennett as a right-wing nationalist whose former government still advanced settlement expansion, and finds his selective criticism hypocritical.