The bloc and the next war
Nahum Barnea argues in his column that the Change Bloc gave up the fight on security issues in the 2026 elections, despite a clear advantage in candidates with security experience. Barnea lists Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, Yoram Cohen, and Yair Golan as a strong security team, comparing them to the Likud list, which he says lacks security expertise except for Netanyahu. He criticizes the parties for failing to present a united front as a governing alternative. Barnea warns of a scenario where the outgoing Netanyahu government launches a round of fighting with Iran to delay a change of power, and calls on the bloc leaders to act quickly to form a government immediately after the elections.
Nahum Barnea's column argues that the Change Bloc has forfeited the security debate ahead of the 2026 elections, despite possessing a clear advantage in candidates with strong security credentials. He lists Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, Yoram Cohen, and Yair Golan as a formidable security team, contrasting them with the Likud list, which he claims lacks security expertise beyond Benjamin Netanyahu. Barnea criticizes the bloc's parties for failing to present a united front as a viable governing alternative. He warns that the outgoing Netanyahu government might initiate a military confrontation with Iran to delay a change of power, urging the bloc's leaders to swiftly form a government immediately after the elections to prevent such a scenario.