Bennett: '100% certain' I will serve as Eisenkot's No. 2 to save Israel

At a Herzliya Conference event in Herzliya, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was asked if he would agree to be the No. 2 of former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot. He replied he is 100% certain they will work together to 'save the country' in the next elections, according to Israeli media reports.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday evening at a Herzliya Conference event at Reichman University that he is '100% certain' he will serve as the No. 2 of former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot and that they will work together to 'save the country' in the next elections, which he called the most fateful yet.

The statement marks a sharpening of Bennett's position after earlier indications of openness. As The Zioneer reported at 17:41 today, Bennett was asked at the same conference whether he would serve as Eisenkot's No. 2 and gave the affirmative reply. The exchange follows a series of polls showing Eisenkot overtaking Bennett in seat projections — including a Channel 12 survey released June 11 that tied the two at 20 seats, and a Kan 11 poll on June 16 putting Eisenkot at 21 seats versus Bennett's 17. Political analyst Amit Segal (N12) reported on June 16 that Bennett had signaled for the first time a willingness to serve under Eisenkot in a replacement government, though Eisenkot was not enthusiastic about a union with Bennett and Lapid.

Bennett's latest remarks remove much of the earlier conditionality, presenting a united opposition ticket '100%' certain to run together. The timing — mid-week during a conference — suggests a deliberate attempt to frame the next election as a binary choice between a Bennett-Eisenkot ticket and a Netanyahu-led government.

3 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 20:13 · 1 JulLatest

   Bennett clarifies he is '100% certain' they will work together.

2. 17:41 · 1 Jul

   Bennett states he would serve as No. 2 to Gadi Eisenkot

3. 10:58 · 1 Jul

   Bennett, Eisenkot meet at Herzliya Conference, pledge to work together to save Israel

• Strong20:22 · 16 JunBennett signals readiness to serve under Eisenkot in a replacement government
• Strong13:56 · 16 JunBennett calls on Eisenkot to join him for merger talks, says he can beat Netanyahu
• Developing09:33 · 16 JunBennett says he would 'be a wheel' for Zionism, vows to replace 'very bad government'
• Developing23:03 · 21 JunLapid endorses Bennett to lead Israel; Bennett adviser denies attacking Eisenkot

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