Eisenkot rejects Bennett’s offer to join forces: I believe in myself, have no intention of being No. 2

Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party and contender for prime minister, says he has no intention of becoming ex-premier Naftali Bennett’s “number two” in the upcoming elections.

“I believe in myself, I know what kind of leadership I bring and see myself as a very good candidate,” he says in an interview with Channel 12 news. “I did not leave as Benny Gantz’s number two in order to be number two to Bennett.”

Eisenkot used to serve as a lawmaker in Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party, before splitting off and founding his own party last year.

The former general rejects the prospect of playing second fiddle to Bennett, several days after the latter said he suggested to Eisenkot privately that the pair join forces.

Contrary to Bennett’s claim that he was sitting on the offer, Eisenkot says he flatly rejected the proposal. “He received the answer ‘no’ there and then,” he says of Bennett.

Earlier this month, Eisenkot’s Yashar emerged as the leading challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, beating out Bennett’s still-unnamed party in a poll published by Zman Yisrael, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew-language sister site.

Bennett, whose party had consistently polled as the largest in the opposition, fell from 17 to 15 seats in the March 19 survey.

Responding to Eisenkot’s remarks tonight, Bennett doubles down on his call for Eisenkot to join forces with him. “Israel needs unity in order to bring great victory,” he says, as quoted by Channel 12. He further warns that “the public won’t forgive someone who prevents victory… Gadi, let’s unite and win.”