Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has officially registered a new political party under the interim name “Bennett 2026,” a move widely interpreted as a step toward reentering Israeli politics ahead of the next national election. In a statement cited by Channel 12, Bennett stopped short of confirming his candidacy, saying, “If and when I decide to actually run for the elections, an announcement will be made on the matter.” Despite the ambiguity, the move drew support from figures across the political spectrum. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who previously served alongside Bennett in a short-lived unity government, congratulated him on the new party. “Israel needs a good government,” Lapid wrote on social media. Reports of Bennett’s return have circulated for months.
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