Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the “Beyachad” Party, Naftali Bennett:
“People of Israel, hold your heads high! The alliance of those who serve has defeated the alliance of draft dodgers today.
The people of Israel have risen and spoken: Netanyahu has lost, and the government of October 7 will be sent packing! The draft-dodging coalition has collapsed from 68 to 50 seats.
We will patiently await the official results, because much can still change. But even now, we, the leaders of the bloc for change, are already talking and coordinating.
We will do everything, without ego, to establish a Zionist government built on an alliance of those who serve—a government of doers that will manage the country responsibly and serve all the people of Israel!
My brothers and sisters, the greatest love of my life is my love for my people. For you. There is no other nation like ours in the world. We are a nation of fighters, a strong people who never give up. Hold your heads high! We will never give up on our country!
You saw us going out into the field, holding grassroots gatherings, bringing a new spirit of down-to-earth dialogue and brotherly love, even when we disagree. Leadership that listens to the pain of the people and embraces them.
That is exactly the spirit we will bring from our grassroots gatherings to the Israeli parliament and into the leadership of the country!
We will ensure that the enormous price the people of Israel have paid in this difficult war will not have been in vain. We will be united at home and strong against our enemies abroad.
I want to thank my beloved wife, Gilat, and my family. You are my heart, my strength.
Thank you to my partner, Yair Lapid—a leader, an Israeli patriot, and a true friend!
Thank you to Israel’s outstanding team of women and men of action! There are no fighters like you, no one as determined as you.
A huge thank you to the campaign team, headquarters staff, regional campaign leaders, volunteers, and our incredible activists—and just as importantly, thank you to your families.
In all my years in politics, I have never seen anything like this. You worked day and night, with creativity, determination, and an enormous love for this nation.
You stood at intersections and in the streets, made phone calls, knocked on doors, cared, persuaded, and fought.
There has never been a campaign like this in the history of the State of Israel!
I am incredibly proud of you. You should be proud of yourselves, too.
One day, we will all tell our children and grandchildren that when the State of Israel called upon us, we stepped forward and said: ‘Here I am!’
And now—let’s get to work. We have a country to fix!
**Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel live!**”