Naftali Bennett

Netanyahu: Bennett seeks a dangerous left-wing government

PM accuses Yamina party of betraying the right and their promises in seeking government with Yair Lapid.

Bennett: Time for unity government

Yamina chair announces his intention to act for unity gov't to prevent fifth election. 'Netanyahu failed to form right-wing gov't.'

President Rivlin to meet with Bennett, Lapid Wednesday

After Netanyahu's mandate expires, President announces meetings with potential candidates for PM, asks for new recommendations.

Netanyahu Returns Mandate:

Bennett pushing to receive mandate to form government

Yamina chief working to win over New Hope, United Arab List to back his bid to become prime minister. Will Rivlin choose Bennett over Lapid?

Gantz to Bennett: Don't fall for Netanyahu's trap

Defense Minister calls on Yamina chairman to support giving mandate to Yair Lapid.

Likud to haredi lawmakers: We're recommending Bennett as PM

In closed talks with haredi parties, Knesset Speaker says Likud is planning on urging President Rivlin to give mandate to Yamina chairman.

Sa'ar rules out sitting on Netanyahu-led government

New Hope chairman chastized the government's handling of Meron disaster, calling for indepenent investigation into tragedy.

Netanyahu to Bennett:

'You can be Prime Minister first'

'I told Bennett that I'm prepared to accept his request to serve as premier first in rotational deal,' says Netanyahu.

Report: Bennett and Shaked have given up on anti-Netanyahu bloc

Yamina appears poised to back Netanyahu over Lapid. But political sources say move is intended to pressure Lapid into granting concessions.

Two Days Before Deadline:

Bennett meets secretly with Netanyahu

Prime Minister held secret meeting with Yamina chief, with negotiating teams from both parties also meeting in secret.

'Bennett will be PM first, Netanyahu planning minority gov't'

Senior Likud official claims Netanyahu planning to build minority government - with Bennett as prime minister.

Bennett and Lapid disagree: Who will get the mandate?

With 2 days before Netanyahu's mandate to form government expires, Yesh Atid fears Bennett could use mandate to work with Likud.

Gantz refuses another offer of rotation from Netanyahu

As Blue and White chairman rejects every proposal to be in a coalition with Netanyahu, Bennett is expected to decide where he is headed.

Lapid agrees to Bennett's, Sa'ar's demands

Yesh Atid leader agrees to have 24 ministers in 'change' government, giving Yamina and New Hope more ministries.

Anonymous poll: What if Netanyahu, Bennett ran together for PM?

Poll of unknown origin presents scenario in which Bennett and Netanyahu run together in direct election like US president and vice president

Bennett and Sa'ar set terms for unity government with Lapid

Yamina and New Hope negotiating teams lay down their demands during talks with Yesh Atid as plans drawn up for alternative government.

New Government On The Way?

Yamina, Yesh Atid, New Hope hold joint coalition talks

Negotiating teams from Yesh Atid, Yamina, New Hope in talks since Thursday morning in attempt to lay foundation for alternative government.

Mike Huckabee: Praying Bennett and Sa'ar join Netanyahu

Former Gov. of Arkansas tweets support for right-wing government, urges Yamina, New Hope, to join Likud-led coalition.

'Shaked trying to prevent Bennett-Lapid coalition'

Yamina's MK Ayelet Shaked making it difficult for 'bloc for change' to form coalition, source within bloc says.

Israel reels from rockets, riots and arm-wrestlng

Sa'ar, Bennett and Liberman are politically like Netanyahu and LIkud, but are eroding Israel's ability to deal with its real problems.Op-ed.

'Does Bennett want to give power to Mansour Abbas?'

MK Orit Strook of the Religious Zionist Party calls on Bennett to take responsibility and ensure a right-wing government is formed.

Distribution of ministerial portfolios - by Saturday night

Yesh Atid chairman and Yamina chairman meet with members of "bloc of change" and formulate up-to-date list of demands.

'Obvious that Bennett reached agreement with the Left'

'We won't sit in a government with partners who want to throw us into the garbage dump,' UTJ's MK Uri Maklev says.

Bennett meets with United Arab List chief Mansour Abbas

'A good meeting.' Yamina chairman meets with senior Arab lawmaker one week before Netanyahu's mandate to form a government expires.

Report: Internal disagreement in Yamina

Senior members of "bloc of change": Bennett fears that two members of Yamina will not support government led by Bennett and Lapid.

Bennett: Israel approaching 'abyss of anarchy'

Yamina leader decries Cabinet meeting which devolved into shouting match, calls on politicians to 'wake up' and show responsibility.

Senior Settlement Leader: 'Netanyahu is no right-winger'

Founder of the Yesha settlement council blasts Prime Minister Netanyahu, endorses Bennett as PM.

Bennett: We're leaving no stone unturned to avoid 5th elections

Yamina chairman tells party the odds are against the formation of a government in the next week, but he will spare no effort.

Yamina faction remains united behind Bennett

Party reiterates support for leader's efforts to form government, avoid fifth round of elections.

Bennett: I've begun efforts to form a unity government

Likud fires back after Bennett says he has begun efforts to form a national unity government: Bennett wants to be PM at all costs.

First agreement between Bennett-Lapid-Liberman

Under agreement, issues of religion and state to be determined in accordance with spirit of Tzohar rabbinical organization

Yamina won't support anti-Netanyahu bill

Yamina officials clarify: Party won't support anti-Netanyahu legislation, because it is 'personal.'

Netanyahu: Bennett is deceiving the public

Prime Minister Netanyahu responds to statement by Yamina chairman, accuses Bennett of seeking to become PM in a left-wing government.

Bennett: We want a government, Netanyahu wants elections

Yamina chairman responds to attacks by Likud party against him.

'Sa'ar, Smotrich stopping Bibi from forming govt, not Bennett'

Political commentators puzzled by Likud's obsession with attacking Yamina when other parties bear greater blame for coalition impasse.

Netanyahu: Absurd for a man with 7 seats to be PM

PM says direct elections for prime minister preferable to having Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett serve as prime minister/

Netanyahu to Bennett: Do not join the left

PM in new video: I call on both Bennett and Gideon Sa'ar - join us, let's establish the strong right-wing government that Israel.

Deri and Bennett meet

Shas chairman and Yamina chairman discuss attempts to form a right-wing government, agree to stay in touch in the coming days.

Smotrich: Better Bennett-Lapid than right wing gov't with Ra'am

Religious Zionist Party leader has become vocal on his objection to the formation of a right wing government being formed via Arab support.

The Likud's 'Bennett Bill'

Likud offered Yamina legislative protection against being fired from government, report says.

Report: Anti-Netanyahu bloc to seek mandate for Bennett

Anti-Netanyahu bloc plans to call on Rivlin to transfer the mandate to form a government to Bennett should Netanyahu fail to form one.

Report:

Netanyahu offering Yamina the Defense and Foreign ministries

PM meets with Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem Tuesday afternoon, while Yamina and Likud negotiating teams meet for coalition talks.

Netanyahu, Bennett to hold third meeting

Yamina chief to meet with Prime Minister Tuesday in bid to reach deal for formation of right-wing government.

PM, Bennett green light negotiations between Likud and Yamina

After meeting, Netanyahu and Bennett agree to have negotiating teams begin coalition talks.

'Bennett trying to prevent formation of a right-wing government'

'Not only is Naftali Bennett not helping form a government, he's trying to prevent the formation of a right-wing government,' sources say.

Deri, Smotrich and Gafni refusing to give rotation to Bennett

Channel 12's Amit Segal: Even if Netanyahu and Bennett go together, Smotrich vehemently refuses to go to a government that relies on Ra'am.

MK Tibi won't rule out backing Bennett-led government

MK Ahmed Tibi won't provide definite answer when asked whether his party would back a government led by Yamina chairman.

'Bennett received a generous offer - he must not pass it up'

MK Liberman urges Yamina chief MK Bennett not to miss opportunity to be first in rotation for PM: 'Netanyahu will try to eliminate him.'

'We'll join a right-wing government - if Smotrich joins, too'

Yamina's MK Bennett promises to help form right-wing government - but will work with the other side if PM Netanyahu fails, report says.

'Smotrich is blocking Netanyahu-Bennett alliance'

Discord on the Right? Netanyahu outraged after Religious Zionist Party chief blasts Bennett ahead of Bennett's meeting with PM.

Bennett and Netanyahu hold meeting 'in positive atmosphere'

Yamina chairman meets Prime Minister at his residence in Balfour, after years in which Netanyahu refrained from inviting Bennett there.

PM, Bennett meet: 'Now is the time for national responsibility'

Yamina chairman, PM meet to discuss efforts to form a right-wing government.

Odeh: We won't support 'father of settlements' Bennett as PM

Joint List chairman says party seeks to replace Netanyahu's policies as well as Netanyahu himself.

Haredim's message to Netanyahu: We will not go to fifth election

Report: Leaders of the haredi parties presented in meetings with the PM the possibility of forming a government headed by Bennett.

'Those who oppose Netanyahu will use Bennett and then toss him'

Former ambassador to the UN warns Yamina chair MK Bennett must choose a side. 'There are no shortcuts' to position of PM.

Likud officials: Bennett is going to back Lapid

Prime Minister Netanyahu set to meet with right-wing bloc leaders today and Naftali Bennett on Thursday in bid to form government.

Netanyahu, Bennett to meet Thursday

Incumbent PM, Yamina chairman to hold private meeting after president imposes mandate to form government on Netanyahu.

'Israel needs a government that leans towards the right'

MK Naftali Bennett, Yamina chief, says he won't compromise on his ideals - even for the position of prime minister.

Lapid: I proposed Bennett be prime minister first

Yesh Atid leader says he is willing to let Bennett be PM first in rotation agreement to remove "dangerous" Netanyahu from power.

Bennett's conditions for Lapid

Yamina party demands to have final vote in government to ensure government would remain right-wing.