Ammon News - Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called on current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, arguing that his political management is “disastrous” and that he is responsible for the deep divisions within Israeli society.

“He has been in power for 20 years, that is too much and it is not healthy,” Bennett stated in a television interview with Channel 12. “He needs to go home,” he added.

Bennett, leader of the New Right, contributed to Netanyahu’s ouster from power in 2021 by forming a short-lived coalition government with centrist Yair Lapid, which lasted for one year.

In his interview, Bennett supported the recent military attack against Iran, calling it a “very good and necessary” decision. He emphasized, however, that this operation would not have been possible without the foundations that, as he claimed, he laid when he was prime minister from June 2021 to June 2022.

Regarding the war in Gaza, he praised the operational performance of the Israeli army, but strongly criticized the political management, calling it a “disaster.” He even proposed reaching a comprehensive agreement that would lead to the release of all hostages, leaving the elimination of Hamas to a future government.

Bennett did not reveal whether he plans to return to politics, although polls show him as the strongest candidate to defeat Netanyahu in the next elections. He remained enigmatic, only stating that he is “not making lists” of candidates for now.

The current term of the Knesset formally ends in 2026, however, early elections are not ruled out.