Bennett files complaint against Likud over fake image of him with Arab party leaders |
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s party filed a police complaint Monday against the ruling Likud party after it shared a manipulated image showing Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid celebrating with Arab politicians following the announcement last week that Arab parties would work toward reuniting in a new joint list ahead of the upcoming Knesset election.
“The Bennett 2026 party has filed a police complaint against the Likud party for malicious forgery, regarding an edited and false photo that was published on the official account of the Likud party,” Bennett’s party said in a statement, adding that the party would submit a petition to the Central Elections Committee as well.
“The State of Israel is facing a fateful election campaign, and therefore it is necessary to set red lines now,” the statement said. “We will fight every attempt to produce fake news that poisons the discourse and divides the country.”
The hawkish politician is widely seen as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s primary challenger for the premiership in this year’s Knesset election.
In 2021-2022, Bennett teamed up with a bloc of parties opposed to Netanyahu — including the Islamist Ra’am — and unseated the longtime premier after more than 12 years in power.
Days before the 2021 election, Bennett had promised........