Naftali Bennett Registers New Political Party, Signaling Return to Israeli Politics

In a move that has drawn attention across Israel’s political spectrum, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has officially registered a new political party under the provisional title “Bennett 2026.” This step signals his return to political activity after more than two years away from public office, following the dissolution of the short-lived Bennett-Lapid government. While the party’s temporary name suggests a focus on the next electoral cycle, sources indicate that the name is likely to change once the political picture becomes clearer.

This development has sparked speculation about potential shifts in Israel’s political balance. A poll published on March 14 suggested that a new political bloc under Bennett’s leadership could attract substantial support. According to the poll, such a bloc could secure 61 Knesset seats, enough to form a government, compared to just 49 seats projected for the current coalition. Within this framework, Bennett’s new party is estimated to win as many as 25 seats, while the Likud party, currently led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, would secure 21.

These figures, though hypothetical at this stage, reflect a growing public appetite for a political alternative that straddles the center-right without aligning with more extreme factions. Naftali Bennett, a former defense minister and a key figure in Religious Zionist circles, had previously led the Yamina party, which promoted nationalistic and right-wing policies while maintaining a degree of independence from the more hardline elements now represented by Bezalel Smotrich and his Religious Zionist Party.

The Likud party responded dismissively to Bennett’s announcement, stating that they have no interest in the internal disputes and divisions of the left-wing camp, implying that they view Bennett’s return as part of a broader centrist-left resurgence. However, Bennett’s political roots and past rhetoric place him firmly within the national camp, though his decision to partner with centrist figures in the past, such as Yair Lapid, continues to draw criticism from his former right-wing allies.

Yair Lapid, head of the opposition and Bennett’s former political partner, publicly welcomed Bennett’s return. The two previously collaborated in forming a unity government in June 2021, which ended over a year later in December 2022. Under their coalition agreement, Bennett served as prime minister from June 2021 until July 2022, after which Lapid took over the premiership. Despite ideological differences, their cooperation reflected a shared desire to move beyond the extended political stagnation that had paralyzed Israeli governance for years.

Bennett’s political career has been marked by a blend of ideology and pragmatism. While he rose to prominence as a staunch advocate of Eretz Yisrael and the settlement enterprise, he also demonstrated a willingness to enter into coalitions with ideological opponents to promote what he viewed as national stability. This balancing act has earned him both praise and criticism—from those who saw him as a responsible leader willing to take bold decisions, and from others who viewed his compromises as a betrayal of his political base.

It remains to be seen how the religious and traditional sectors of Israeli society will respond to Bennett’s re-entry. His Yamina party once garnered significant support from religious Zionist voters, many of whom have since aligned with Smotrich or other more ideologically consistent right-wing factions. However, should Bennett position his new party as a voice for responsible, Torah-respecting governance while maintaining a nationalistic stance, he may find renewed resonance among traditional and dati voters disillusioned with current political tensions.

Bennett has not yet made public remarks about the goals or direction of his new party. Analysts believe that his next steps will depend largely on how the current government performs in the coming months, as well as on whether elections are called sooner than expected. In a climate marked by economic concerns, security challenges, and societal tension, a seasoned figure with a background in both defense and governance may be seen as a stabilizing force by a significant portion of the electorate.