Former PM Bennett: Netanyahu ‘incapable of governing’ under far‑right control

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “incapable of governing his own government” because far‑right ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, alongside ultra‑Orthodox groups, have taken control of him. “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. He added that Netanyahu can no longer call them to order because he depends on them politically.

Israel’s image and military doctrine

Bennett argued that Israel’s international standing has deteriorated not due to biased media but because of “ongoing self‑inflicted wounds” inflicted by the government, which has conducted “zero public diplomacy.” He also criticised the prolonged wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and against Iran, saying they contradict Israel’s military doctrine. “If we have to pursue war, do it quickly, intensively, win and move on to stabilise the region. When you drag it on for such a long time, it exhausts our economy, exhausts our reservists,” he said.

Domestic political context

The former prime minister’s remarks reflect growing frustration within Israeli political circles over the influence of far‑right coalition partners on national security decisions. Bennett, who served as prime minister from 2021 to 2022, has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s coalition. His comments come as the Knesset faces potential early elections, with opposition parties accusing the government of prioritising coalition survival over national interests.