Can Bennett become Israel’s Peter Magyar in the fight for democracy? - opinion

The narrative surrounding Naftali Bennett's potential role in Israel's political landscape often draws parallels to Peter Magyar, the Hungarian opposition leader who successfully challenged an authoritarian system. Many Israelis, desperate to move past the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, are eager to embrace Bennett as a figurehead for democratic renewal, hoping he has genuinely broken from the populist-nationalist bloc.

“

Who can guarantee that under certain circumstances, Bennett – no stranger to political reversals – would not hand back to Netanyahu Knesset seats that came from liberal voters?

However, a healthy dose of skepticism persists. Bennett's history of political reversals fuels concerns that he might, under certain circumstances, revert to aligning with Netanyahu, a risk deemed unacceptable given the perceived "rot" that developed under Netanyahu's leadership, particularly in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre. The urgency to remove Netanyahu, who is seen as clinging to power and undermining democratic institutions, makes any potential return to his orbit a grave concern.

“

The Oct. 7 massacre exposed the rot that developed under his obsession with power. Any other Israeli leader would have resigned, agreed to a commission of inquiry, and certainly not run again. Netanyahu, of course, clings to his chair, fortifies his benighted coalition by funneling massive resources to the haredi parties, and continues to attack Israel’s democratic institutions without shame.

Bennett's recent announcement of a merger between his party and Yesh Atid represents a significant step towards assuaging these doubts. This move appears to signal an understanding that he can no longer easily transfer his mandates back to Netanyahu. Furthermore, his vocal commitments to drafting the ultra-Orthodox, establishing a state commission of inquiry, and opposing divisive rhetoric from Netanyahu are viewed as crucial and positive developments.

“

But courage and intellectual integrity on the level of Magyar we have not yet seen.

Despite these steps, the comparison to Magyar highlights a perceived gap. While Magyar made a complete break from Viktor Orbán's party and its associated ideology, Bennett insists on remaining "right-wing." This insistence, while perhaps a strategic move to retain voters, is questioned as potentially disingenuous. The article probes what this "Right" truly represents in Israel – not necessarily capitalism, but a system of distributing jobs and maintaining a specific ideological stance, even when it conflicts with democratic principles. The question remains whether Bennett can truly embody the courage and integrity of Magyar, or if he will remain tethered to the complexities of Israeli right-wing politics.

“

Bennett, for now, instead insists that he remains “right-wing” – as if ideological competition can simply be set aside in the name of “unity.”