Exploring potential political allies, Bennett meets with Eisenkot

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett met today with former MK Gadi Eisenkot as they both continue to explore their political futures, their spokespeople say.

According to a Bennett spokesman, the pair discussed “new leadership” for the country and have held other meetings over the past few weeks as part of their “coordinated efforts to replace the government.”

Recordings were released earlier Sunday of comments Bennett made at a conference on Thursday, where he tore into current government ministers and outlined his plans to run for office on a united slate.

“I have a role, and that is to unite the various centrist parties. We’ll talk to [Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor] Liberman, to Eisenkot, and get everyone into one big party,” he said, telling the conference that their role is to “convince everyone to vote for this party and win a clear and decisive majority.”

Eisenkot was the former number 2 in Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party before he resigned in June, and has since been sharply critical of his former boss, urging him to step down and pave the way for an alternative slate.