Bennett confirmed his refusal to form a government with him, in a dispute that revealed discrepancies within the opposition camp regarding the conditions for excluding Netanyahu from power.
Bennett said, in a clarification published following the criticism raised by his statements during an election conference for the Hador newspaper, that Netanyahu bears “direct and personal responsibility” for the defeat of October 7, 2023, and that he must leave executive political life, adding: “We will not sit with him in any way.”
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Bennett explained that his previous speech was aimed, as he put it, at highlighting what he described as the contradiction in Netanyahu’s position on the issues raised by the “Together” party as basic principles for any future government, most notably the formation of an official investigation committee into the October 7 defeat, the imposition of compulsory conscription on everyone, and the development of a constitution for Israel.
Bennett had said, during the electoral conference, that he would not mind Netanyahu assuming a ministerial position in a government led by the Change camp, if he agreed to these principles. He also described Netanyahu as one of the best finance ministers to hold the position in Israel, in reference to his period as Finance Minister in 2003. His statements raised objections from his potential allies, who considered them a departure from the existing position of refusing Netanyahu to return to any alternative government.
Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot quickly rejected Bennett's position, saying that anyone who was in a leadership position during the events of October 7 should not hold leadership positions, including the Ministry of Finance.
For his part, the head of the "Israel Our Home" party, Avigdor Lieberman, called on the leaders of the change camp to declare a clear position, stressing his refusal to sit with Netanyahu in the next government, even if he assumes a ministerial position that is not directly related to security files.
The head of the Democratic Party, Yair Golan, also announced his rejection of Netanyahu’s participation in any government that his party could influence the formation of, linking his position to the government’s responsibility for the October 7 defeat, and to the disputes related to compulsory conscription and judicial amendments.
These responses came at a time when opposition leaders are trying to maintain a minimum level of electoral coordination, after they agreed in a meeting held on September 27 to refrain from attacking partner parties in the Change camp or their leaders until the formation of the next government.
The disagreement goes beyond an electoral statement
The crisis reveals the sensitivity of the issue of cooperation with Netanyahu within the camp that seeks to end his rule. While the main opposition parties agree on the need for change, they are also trying to prevent any confusion about the possibility of him being reinstated in power after the elections.
The issue also relates to the ability of these parties to reach a common program, especially on the issues of investigating the failures of October 7, the compulsory conscription of Haredi Jews, and the nature of the Israeli constitutional system.
According to the Ynet report, Netanyahu cannot practically hold a ministerial position in light of the indictment filed against him, a point that added a legal dimension to the political controversy raised by Bennett's statements.
The dispute comes as the Israeli parties prepare to run in the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, amid competition for the votes of the opposition right and center, and efforts to build a coalition capable of gathering 61 seats out of 120.
The controversy indicates that the challenge facing the change camp is not limited to reducing Likud seats, but rather includes maintaining the cohesion of its components and defining clear lines regarding the form of the next government and the personality of its president.
