Bennett votes, reiterates call for broad national unity government

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who bowed out of politics shortly after handing over the reins of power to Yair Lapid in July, calls for the formation of a national unity government after casting his vote.

“We will put slogans and hatred behind us, we will get to work mending rifts and reconnecting, with God’s help, into a large and broad government — a unity government,” he says in a statement.

“We are all one camp, we are all the nation of Israel,” he adds. His call is unlikely to be heeded with Benjamin Netanyahu promising a narrow right-wing government, and Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz ruling out sitting with Netanyahu.

Bennett notes that he is “watching from the sidelines” after more than a decade in politics.

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בסופו של דבר כולנו מחנה אחד – כולנו עם ישראל???????? pic.twitter.com/VEP4KaUkaI

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) November 1, 2022

Bennett has yet to throw his weight behind a candidate and has not revealed for whom he is voting.

Bennett’s Yamina party collapsed after a tumultuous year in the coalition and his hiatus from politics. His former political partner Ayelet Shaked’s Jewish Home party has consistently polled far below the 3.25% vote threshold to enter Knesset.