What happened
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is attempting a political comeback with a vision to expand the Abraham Accords and strengthen Israel's relationships with Arab nations and the United States.
Bennett's campaign promises to build economic partnerships and rebuild Israel's strained international relationships, particularly with the US. He believes his business background could help him work with President Donald Trump to advance regional diplomacy.
However, Bennett faces challenges from competitors Gadi Eisenkot and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with polls showing him trailing behind. Despite this, Bennett is confident that his experience and vision can help him become prime minister again, even if his party doesn't win the most seats.
Bennett's regional ambitions reflect an approach to diplomacy shaped by his business experience. He has proposed cracking down on extremist violence in the West Bank and has advocated for direct action against Iran. His foreign policy remains firmly on the Israeli right, which may raise questions about how significantly his government would depart from Netanyahu's policies.
