On February 17, 2026, former prime minister Naftali Bennett took the stage at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, delivering remarks that sent ripples through Israel’s already turbulent political waters. With the next election looming and the country still grappling with the aftermath of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, Bennett’s speech made it clear: he would not be part of what he called Israel’s “failed” leadership, nor would he serve under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again.
“An Israel divided against itself will not stand,” Bennett told the assembled Jewish leaders, as reported by The Times of Israel. “Israel’s current leadership has divided us and continues to divide us even now, more than ever… I will not allow that failed and divisive leadership to continue, nor will I be part of it. I intend to lead Israel into its next, stronger chapter.”
Bennett’s words, though carefully chosen, left little doubt about his intentions. While he stopped short of naming Netanyahu directly, his message was unmistakable. “After three decades since taking power, and after the greatest disaster in Israel’s history happened on his watch, a leader must know when to step aside with dignity,” Bennett declared, referencing the October 7 attacks that left some 1,200 dead and 251 hostages taken—a tragedy that has defined Israeli discourse for nearly two years.
Netanyahu, who has helmed the government almost continuously since 2009 (with a brief interruption from 2021 to 2022), has so far refused to accept direct responsibility for the failures surrounding October 7. Instead, he has sought to shift blame elsewhere, a stance that has only fueled calls for a change in leadership. According to The Times of Israel, Bennett has repeatedly called for a state commission of inquiry into the events leading up to and following the attacks—something Netanyahu has steadfastly opposed, declining to establish any form of inquiry even as the war in Gaza drags into its second year.
Bennett’s position is a marked departure from his own recent political history. He served as prime minister and in other senior posts in the years preceding the October 7 onslaught, meaning he, too, could face scrutiny if an inquiry is ever launched. Nonetheless, his willingness to demand accountability—of himself and others—has set him apart from Netanyahu in the eyes of many Israelis.
In the lead-up to the 2026 elections, Bennett’s political fortunes are on the rise. Most polls predict his party will become the second-largest in the Knesset, trailing only Netanyahu’s Likud. This makes Bennett the prime minister’s most formidable challenger, and his recent statements suggest he is preparing to stake his claim as the leader of a new era. “Israel is bigger than any one man,” he told the conference, signaling his belief that the country’s future must not be held hostage by the legacy of a single individual.
Yet the path to a new government is anything but straightforward. The next election must be held by the end of October 2026, but political instability could bring the vote forward if the ruling coalition collapses. For the opposition to unseat Netanyahu, they would likely need to include or rely on Arab parties to secure a majority—a scenario both Bennett and Avigdor Liberman have publicly vetoed. This political arithmetic has left many observers wondering whether a real change is possible without major shifts in party alliances or voter sentiment.
Bennett’s refusal to serve under Netanyahu has not gone unchallenged. In recent days, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, both prominent figures on the political right, claimed that Bennett would ultimately “crawl” into a Netanyahu-led government if given the opportunity. Bennett, however, flatly rejected these assertions, stating, “I will not allow a leadership that has failed to continue.”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid—head of the Yesh Atid party—has seized on the uncertainty, urging voters to rally behind his movement to ensure Netanyahu’s defeat. Lapid framed the upcoming vote as “the most critical elections in Israel’s history,” emphasizing the need for a unified and powerful opposition. His message was clear: only by standing together could the anti-Netanyahu bloc hope to bring about the change so many Israelis desire.
The question of Arab party participation remains a thorny issue. In a letter sent to Bennett, Lapid, Yair Golan, and Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Liberman demanded written commitments that they would not rely on Arab parties or cooperate with Netanyahu under any rotation or power-sharing arrangement. This stance reflects a longstanding tension in Israeli politics, where the inclusion of Arab parties in governing coalitions is often viewed with suspicion or outright hostility by segments of the right and center.
For Bennett, this is familiar territory. In the run-up to the 2021 elections, he explicitly promised not to sit in a government under Lapid or with Arab parties—a pledge he later broke when he formed the coalition that ousted Netanyahu. That decision was controversial, and critics from both the right and left have since questioned his reliability as a political partner. This time, though, Bennett appears determined to draw a clear line: no more alliances with Netanyahu, and no more ambiguity about where he stands.
Still, the realities of coalition politics in Israel are rarely black and white. Although Bennett’s February 17 comments suggest he is unlikely to join a unity government with Likud, he has not categorically ruled it out. As the blocs currently stand, and barring major electoral shifts, the anti-Netanyahu opposition would struggle to form a government without making compromises—whether that means reaching out to Arab parties or finding a way to bridge deep ideological divides within their own ranks.
For many Israelis, the stakes could hardly be higher. The trauma of October 7 lingers, and the ongoing war in Gaza has only deepened divisions within society. Bennett’s call for new leadership resonates with those who believe the country needs a fresh start, but his own record and the complexities of Israeli politics mean that change will not come easily.
As the election approaches, all eyes are on Bennett, Netanyahu, and the shifting alliances that will determine Israel’s future. Will Bennett’s promise of a “stronger chapter” be enough to persuade voters hungry for change? Or will the gravitational pull of old loyalties and political realities keep the country locked in its current trajectory?
Only time—and the voters—will tell. But one thing is certain: the debate over leadership, accountability, and the path forward for Israel has reached a critical juncture, and the choices made in the coming months will shape the nation for years to come.