From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
In filing, Bennett’s party says key goals include integrating Haredim into army and workforce
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s application to register a new political party is published by the Israeli Corporations Authority, listing its goals and founding members.
According to its application, the new party’s goals seem to focus on strengthening the economy and military and promoting the integration of the ultra-Orthodox population into the military and workforce.
The goals, as listed, are:
1) “To restore security to Israel, and restore the people’s trust in Israel’s ability to defend its borders and the interior of the country while implementing an active security concept.”
2) “To lead Israel in the spirit of the founders of the state and the builders of the country in a way that will ensure its unity, continuity and prosperity as a model Jewish and democratic state. To advance it as a strong, sovereign state, and grow in all areas of life, while integrating all its citizens in carrying the security, civil and economic burden.”
While Bennett announced that he was registering his party under the temporary name “Bennett 2026” in early April, the paperwork shows that the paperwork was only submitted on Sunday.
Among those listed as the party’s founders are Bennett, his wife Gilat, former Communications Ministry director general Liran Avissar Ben-Horin, former Strauss CEO Gadi Lesin and Bruria Naim Erman, founder of the PR firm Community Relations.
The founding members also include Giora Levi, Bennett’s commander during his time in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit; Ofer Ogash, who previously ran for Knesset as part of Bennett’s previous party; and former Target Market CEO Nir Novak.
The Times of Israel’s sister site, Zman Yisrael, has previously reported that Novak is working as Bennett’s chief of staff.
Bennett’s longtime political partner, Ayelet Shaked, who is widely expected to join Bennett’s new party, is not listed.
Bennett, who led the now-defunct right-wing Yamina party, has been out of office since the 2022 collapse of his diverse coalition government, which in 2021 ousted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the premiership after 12 consecutive years during which Israel underwent unprecedented political turmoil, including four national elections in three years.
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