Bennett on conversation with Netanyahu: "He asked me to agree to a government with Mansour Abbas"

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in Ashdod to improve his image and seek support for upcoming elections, amid polls predicting a significant failure for his party. During a conversation with a local resident who manages a taxi station, Bennett faced intense frustration over his controversial decision to form a government with 6 mandates and cooperate with Mansour Abbas.

"I manage the largest taxi station in the south. My whole family consistently votes for Bibi. You were elected Prime Minister with 6 mandates. In my eyes, this is not democracy. You went to every studio and held up documents: 'I sign here, not with Yair Lapid, not with Mansour Abbas.' In the end, you went with them," the resident argued.

Bennett listened and asked: "It bothers you that I broke a promise. Leaving politics aside, what do you want the government of Israel to provide for you?" The resident replied: "It hurts me deeply; people are serving 300, 500 days in reserve duty. This is the most painful thing. Whoever does not study Torah should enlist."

Attempting to explain his position, Bennett shared details of a past conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu: "You are right; forming a government with 6 mandates is not the natural path. I am not trying to convince you that I was right, but I want you to understand my motives. In the 2021 elections, I said like all the right-wing: 'I am not sitting with Mansour Abbas.' Bibi received the mandate to form a government, and we had 7 mandates. I told him: 'All 7 votes are yours, go for it.'

After a few days, he told me: 'Listen, I cannot form a government with 59 mandates. There is one, Mansour Abbas, but he is different.' I told him: 'Listen, it is difficult. I made a commitment.' He said: 'I also made a commitment, but this is the situation. I want you to agree to form a government with Mansour Abbas.' He met with Mansour Abbas 3 or 4 times at the Balfour residence. Actually, the entire Likud party was in favor. Yinon Magal said: 'It is racist not to include him.'"

After Netanyahu failed to form a government, it was Bennett's turn: "I stood at a crossroads: fifth elections or forming a government relying on Mansour Abbas. I struggled with the breach of promise, but we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country was closed, and there was no budget, so I went for it. I took a hit and faced anger for breaking my word. I accept the criticism. But the moment I did it, Yariv Levin and Yinon Magal changed their tune. A minute earlier, they said Mansour Abbas was a man; when I formed the government, they called him a terrorist."