Former prime minister Naftali Bennett has submitted the required documents for the registration of a new political party, according to an official document from Israel’s Corporation Authority published on Tuesday.

The party, named “Bennett 2026,” names one of its two goals as “the recruitment of all Israeli citizens to the security, civil, and economic burden.”

The party’s other goal is “to restore security to Israel and restore the public’s trust in Israel’s ability to defend its borders and the interior of the country through the implementation of an active security concept.”

In other words, since ensuring Israel’s security is a goal shared by all political parties, the raison d’être of Bennett’s new party is for all Bnei Yeshivos to enlist in the IDF.

Bennett, the former chairman of the Yamina party, lost the trust of his former supporters when he formed a government with opposition leader Yair Lapid in 2021 after explicitly promising not to do so.

The party lists Bennett’s wife, Gilat Bennett, as his No. 2, and his former commander in Sayeret Matkal, Giora Levi, as his No. 10. The other names on the list are not well-known and do not include his former political partner of many years, Ayelet Shaked.

About two months ago, Bennett published a post against Chareidim, writing: “In war – everyone stands up – right and left, supporters of the government and its opponents. There is no refusal and no ‘non-appearance.’ Period. Hamas wants to destroy us all. In war, while our soldiers and reservists are sent to the front, a government does not pass a budget that encourages evasion. Dear MKs, do not lend a hand to this terrible injustice. In war, the people of Israel are united, and only then will we win.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)