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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 625

Naftali Bennett

L to R: Former prime minister Naftali Bennett at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on May 26, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on June 9, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); National Unity Party leader MK Benny Gantz leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on June 9, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 16, 2025, 8:03 pm
Opposition rallies around Iran campaign, despite long opposing PM’s leadership
Lapid says Netanyahu must go, but not during ‘existential fight’; former PM Bennett: ‘There is no left, no opposition and no coalition’ when it comes to preventing Iranian nukes
By AP and Sam Sokol
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen attends a menorah-lighting ceremony on the sixth night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, at the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv, December 30, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
June 8, 2025, 7:20 pm
Ex-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen said considering forming new party before next election
Cohen reportedly received offers to join existing factions but is inclined to go his own way; ex-PM Bennett, ahead in polls, completes registration for new party
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during the Israel Information Technology Conference in Ness Ziona, May 5, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
June 5, 2025, 12:42 am
Polls: Bennett-led bloc would triumph over PM’s coalition if elections held today
Ex-PM’s party gets 24-27 seats in surveys held amid coalition crisis over draft exemption; poll finds popular support for early elections and excluding Haredim from next coalition
By ToI Staff
L to R: The Democrats leader Yair Golan, National Unity leader Benny Gantz, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, lead their respective faction meetings at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 26, 2025. (All photos Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
May 29, 2025, 4:52 pm
Yair Golan urges center-left merger for ousting Netanyahu, but Lapid uninterested
The Democrats head calls for Yesh Atid and National Unity to join forces with him, insists broad center all on the same team; officials close to opposition leader say it’s a losing strategy
By Stav Levaton and Michael Bachner
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during the Israel Information Technology Conference in Ness Ziona, May 5, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 18, 2025, 7:19 pm
Israeli teen arrested for spying for Iran on former PM Bennett during hospital stay
18-year-old documented floor on which ex-premier’s bodyguards were located, police say, alleging he knew it could harm Israel’s security, but did so for money
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a tech conference in Ness Ziona, May 5, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 15, 2025, 11:17 pm
To prevent a repeat of defections, Bennett said seeking unprecedented control over new party
After his 2021-2022 government was brought down by revolts in his party, the former PM plans to hold on closely to the levers of political power when he next runs for office
By Sam Sokol
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during the Israel Information Technology Conference in Ness Ziona, May 5, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 7, 2025, 5:05 pm
Ex-PM Bennett, Ben Gvir deny report alleging exchange of ‘hush money’
After Kan claims former premier paid NIS 35,000 to political rival in 2020 to keep a secret, both men say money was solely a lawsuit settlement, while trading barbs
By Sam Sokol
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a tech conference in Ness Ziona, May 5, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 6, 2025, 5:38 pm
Bennett’s new party aims to ‘restore security to Israel,’ draft ultra-Orthodox
Newly released Bennett 2026 party registration document says former PM seeks to integrate all citizens ‘in carrying the security, civil and economic burden’
By Sam Sokol
Knesset Finance Committee chair Moshe Gafni (3rd from left) and other ultra-Orthodox lawmakers pictured in the Knesset as the 2025 state budget law is passed, March 25, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
May 5, 2025, 11:07 pm
Haredi parties to boycott government votes over failure to pass IDF exemption law
Ultra-Orthodox MK warns that if legislation doesn’t pass during current Knesset session, ‘we will have a very big problem sitting in such a government’
By Sam Sokol
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks at a commemoration marking 30 days since the death of Yona Brif, who was injured fighting invading terrorists during the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, and succumbed to his wounds a year later, at the Mt. Herzal military cemetery in Jerusalem. December 25, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 27, 2025, 9:23 am
Bennett accuses PM of preventing victory over Hamas by not drafting ultra-Orthodox
Former premier says military ‘stretched past the limit’ since Oct. 7, demands government draft 20% of eligible Haredim to offset ‘stagnation’ of the military campaign in Gaza
By Sam Sokol
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett donates blood in memory of Sgt. First Class Yona Brief, March 27, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/ FLASH90)
April 20, 2025, 12:40 pm
Bennett hospitalized overnight after feeling unwell, undergoes cardiac catheterization
Former PM admitted to Meir Medical Center following a workout and is in good condition, says his spokesperson; will remain hospitalized for monitoring and treatment
By Sam Sokol
Then-Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, with then-Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 18, 2022. (Olivier Fitousi/Flash90)
April 17, 2025, 3:18 pm
Bennett, Lapid blast Netanyahu after reports strike on Iran was scuttled
Opposition leader says he suggested hitting Iran last October, but PM ‘was afraid’ and blocked the proposal; Bennett says it is the ‘Netanyahu doctrine’ to make empty threats
By ToI Staff
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC on March 6, 2025 (Mandel NGAN / AFP)
April 15, 2025, 11:48 pm
In swift reversal, Witkoff says any nuclear deal must ‘eliminate’ Iran’s enrichment, weaponization
Russia declines to say if it will store enriched uranium as part of agreement, with Tehran said set to reject such an offer; Bennett: Mustn’t allow Iran to regroup
By ToI Staff and Reuters
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and former prime minister Naftali Bennett (right) attend the funeral of Rabbi Haim Drukman, at Merkaz Shapira, near Kiryat Malachi, on December 26, 2022. (Gil Cohen-Magen/ AFP)
April 7, 2025, 2:33 pm
Ex-Shin Bet chief: Netanyahu asked me to ‘disqualify’ Bennett from security cabinet
Yoram Cohen says PM claimed ‘loyalty issue’ with Bennett, who himself charges PM tried removing him over 2014 aim to ‘finish’ Hamas; PMO decries ‘fake news’; Cohen also files High Court declaration
By ToI Staff
From left: Jonatan Urich, Eli Feldstein, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Composite: Flash90)
April 6, 2025, 4:47 pm
Second businessman questioned in Qatargate probe identified as David Saig
Saig, who reportedly has dealings in Gulf, released after questioning but phone held; Bennett says PMO was ‘working for’ Qatar instead of Israel; JPost editor says he was ‘so naive’
By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
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