One Shove at Bennett Rally Leads to Saturday Night Arrest

Police arrested a 23-year-old man from Givatayim on Saturday night after he shoved a bodyguard at a rally in Tel Aviv. The incident occurred while Naftali Bennett, the B'Yachad party chairman and former prime minister, addressed a crowd demanding a commission of inquiry into the events of October 7.

Witnesses said the suspect was under the influence of alcohol and attempted to breach the security perimeter surrounding Bennett. He shouted the slogan “Only Bibi,” a phrase of support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while pushing against the guards. The security team instructed him to step back, but the man continued to press forward.

When one guard pushed the man away, the suspect shoved the officer in return. The guards subdued him and held him at the scene until officers arrived at the park. Police took the man to the station for questioning. An initial check revealed he has no prior criminal record.

Bennett served as prime minister from June 2021 to June 2022. The rally was part of a push to establish a formal inquiry into the failures that preceded the October 7 massacre. The confrontation took place days before the 2026 Knesset elections. Israeli Defense Force soldiers had already cast their ballots at military polling stations earlier in the week. Investigators are currently reviewing the details of the scuffle.