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Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "incapable of governing his own government," arguing that far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, along with ultra-Orthodox parties, have taken control of his coalition.
"He is incapable of governing his own government, because Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and Haredim, they all control him," Bennett said in an interview with broadcaster Mario Nawfal.
"I would not entertain in my government any idiots that talk about—just really stupid statements that people like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich say," Bennett said. "I would not have allowed Ben-Gvir into my government to begin with. But if someone in my government said something like that, I would call them to order. Netanyahu can no longer do that because he depends upon them."
Bennett said Netanyahu's own cabinet does not listen to him.
"Bibi can no longer make his own Cabinet listen to him. Ben-Gvir pulls him in one direction, Smotrich in another, and the ultra-Orthodox parties are pushing in an entirely different direction," he said. "Since Netanyahu needs all of them to remain in power, he no longer finds the strength in himself to say 'no' to any of them."
Earlier in June, Netanyahu said he intended to run in elections scheduled for later this year, as he faced domestic criticism over his wartime leadership.
Netanyahu, who is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has led his country through three years of war on multiple interconnected fronts, and is currently on trial for corruption.
Bennett acknowledged that Israel's international standing had deteriorated badly, saying the damage was not caused only by biased media or external propaganda but also by the government's own conduct.
He said Israeli ministers were inflicting "ongoing self-inflicted wounds" on the country's image while Israel was conducting "zero public diplomacy."
Bennett said global reactions stemmed from Israel's own mistakes, arguing that the country's biggest problem was no longer only enemies beyond its borders but a governing approach that had become captive to extremists at home.
Bennett said he opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, supported eliminating Hamas and disarming Hezbollah, and continued to regard Iran as Israel's greatest strategic threat.
But he argued that the government's current military strategy was harming the country.
The former prime minister said prolonged Israeli wars in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and along the Iranian front were contrary to Israel's military doctrine and were draining the country.
"It's not Israel's doctrine," Bennett said.
"If we have to pursue war, do it quickly, intensively, win and move on to stabilize the region," he said. "When you drag it on for such a long time, it exhausts our economy, exhausts our reservists."
Bennett said Israel needed to remove coalition ministers who sabotage diplomatic contacts with rhetoric of annexation and permanent conflict.
He also called for a "prudent government" capable of rebuilding ties with regional countries such as Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates and ending what he described as endless wars.
Meanwhile, Israeli politician Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, officially launched his party's election campaign on Tuesday and announced his candidacy for prime minister in the upcoming legislative elections.
Eisenkot, who served as Israel's military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019, made the announcement during a speech Tuesday evening, according to Israel's public broadcaster.
"In October, the term of the disastrous October government will come to an end, and a new and far better chapter in Israel's history will begin," Eisenkot said.
The former army chief said the government he intends to lead would make "courageous decisions" on key national issues, including security, mandatory military service and public education.
Eisenkot also vowed to establish a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, after which Israel launched a deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip.
He described such an investigation as a "primary duty."
Israeli officials have described the events of Oct. 7 as the country's greatest intelligence and military failure, saying they severely damaged Israel's image and that of its military.
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Israel's next general election is scheduled for Oct. 27, although Israeli media has reported a possible agreement between Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties to move the vote to Oct. 20.
According to a poll published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv on Friday, 34% of Israelis believe Eisenkot is the most suitable candidate for prime minister.
Under Israel's political system, there is no fixed date for parties to begin campaigning.
While the official election campaign typically starts after the Knesset is dissolved and an election date is set, political and campaign activities are permitted beforehand.
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