Knesset hallway clash

Ben-Gvir challenges Bennett to debate

National Security Minister confronts Hayachad chairman in Knesset hallway, calls him out over Mansour Abbas coalition: A crook stays a crook

Jfeed Staff

OCT 13, 2026 14:22

1 min read

Ben-Gvir Challenges Bennett to Debate; Bennett Tries to Dodge

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The confrontation between Ben-Gvir and Bennett

A sharp verbal confrontation erupted Tuesday in a Knesset hallway between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Beyachad party chairman Naftali Bennett, with Ben-Gvir challenging the former prime minister to a one-on-one debate.

"What are you afraid of? Are you scared of a debate?" Ben-Gvir attacked Bennett during the encounter. "I see you talking... You were the one who made a government with Mansour Abbas. A crook is a crook, crookedness is a profession."

The clash comes as the political campaign intensifies ahead of elections expected in about two weeks.

A poll published Monday night on Channel 12 showed Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! party leading with 23 seats, Likud weakening to 20 seats, and Bennett's Beyachad receiving 13 seats. Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit strengthened to 8 seats.

In the past, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni revealed that during the attempts to form the Bennett-Lapid government, extensive offers were made to the chareidi parties to join the coalition. "What they offered me to bring down Netanyahu from power, it's a social earthquake," Gafni said.