Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett hospitalized following cardiac incident

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure at the hospital this morning (Sunday) after feeling unwell. His office stated that the incident occurred during a workout session, and added, "His condition is good; he will remain at the medical center for further monitoring and treatment."

Last night, Bennett was seen attending a Mimouna celebration in the town of Be'er Ganim.

Please join me, Evangelicals, in praying for a quick and full recovery for my friend, former Israeli Prime Minister ⁦@naftalibennett⁩. He was hospitalized last night after not feeling well during a work out. He’s doing better but still being monitored closely. pic.twitter.com/4wwEHNEKIa

— Joel C. Rosenberg (@JoelCRosenberg) April 20, 2025

Earlier this month, Bennett registered a new political party under the provisional name “Bennett 2026.” According to a report on the evening news on Kan 11, Bennett founded the new party after conducting in-depth research over recent months, aimed at identifying where undecided voters stand on the political spectrum and whether they might support a party led by him.

Following his unofficial announcement of a potential return to politics, senior coalition officials claimed that Bennett tried to recruit defectors in an attempt to derail the state budget vote, which could have triggered early elections.

In recent months, there have been several reports about Bennett’s possible return to Israeli politics. In September 2024, the former prime minister gave an interview to the German newspaper Bild, where he did not rule out a political comeback or even joining a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I will be in any position where I can make a difference,” he said.

When asked directly whether he would return to public life, he replied, “When I stepped down, my wife and I decided to take a long break. We didn’t know how quickly Israel would deteriorate into the difficult state it is in now. If I need to sweep floors for my nation, I will sweep floors for my people. If I need to be a soldier, I’ll be a soldier. I’ll be in any position where I can make a change.”