Former Prime Minister Signals Political Earthquake as Rift Deepens Inside Israel’s Nationalist Camp
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett dramatically reversed his earlier tone on Friday, declaring unequivocally that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir would have “no place” in any government he leads.
“I want to be clear,” Bennett stated. “Itamar Ben-Gvir has no place in my government — not because of boycott rhetoric, but because he is a failed minister who acts with bullying and racism against the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.”
The sharp rebuke follows remarks Bennett made earlier this week at a conference in Efrat, where he advocated forming a broad national unity government after the upcoming elections. He referenced the 1984 unity model that rotated leadership between Yitzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres — a period often cited as a stabilizing moment in Israeli political history.
Recordings later published by Kipa captured Bennett clarifying that he was not formally boycotting Ben Gvir or Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich. However, even then, his criticism was pointed.
“I’m not boycotting him,” Bennett said of Ben Gvir. “But he’s simply a terribly, terribly unserious person. Clownish behavior is not a substitute for seriousness.”
In contrast, Bennett offered a more measured assessment of Smotrich, describing him as combative but capable. “Smotrich today is very combative, but he knows how to work,” Bennett noted, suggesting there could still be political maneuvering ahead.
Bennett also accused Religious Zionism of maintaining a political boycott against him, questioning why cooperation had become impossible within parts of the nationalist bloc.
The escalating tensions signal potential fragmentation on Israel’s right ahead of elections, as Bennett positions himself as a conservative leader seeking broader legitimacy while distancing himself from what he views as destabilizing elements.
