Former prime minister naftali Bennett’s party filed a police complaint monday against teh ruling Likud party after it shared a manipulated image showing Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid celebrating with Arab politicians following the proclamation 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 live on air not to join a government with Lapid or with Ra’am, only to break that promise weeks later.
קואליציית המשרתים pic.twitter.com/mdtigybvkf
– הליכוד (@Likud_Party) January 22, 2026
That diverse and short-lived coalition, led jointly by Bennett and Lapid, was the first in decades to include an Arab party.
In the 2022 election, Netanyahu’s Likud regained power with a bloc of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties that has stuck together even after the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught.
Netanyahu and his allies have been waging a relentless campaign against Bennett ever since he sent the Likud leader to the opposition, saying he will again partner with Arab parties if given the chance.
Naftali Bennett Files Complaint Over Doctored Image
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett filed a complaint with the police on January 25, 2026, alleging the Likud party circulated a fabricated image depicting him alongside leaders of Arab parties, intending to damage his reputation during the current political campaign.
What is the complaint about?
The complaint centers on a digitally altered photograph showing Bennett with Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Ra’am party, and other Arab political figures. Bennett claims the image was created and disseminated by the Likud party to falsely suggest he collaborated with individuals he portrays as opposing Israel’s security interests.
Details of the Alleged Fabrication
Bennett’s legal team asserts the image is a composite, created by manipulating seperate photographs. They argue the Likud party’s actions constitute defamation and a deliberate attempt to mislead voters. The complaint specifically names several Likud officials suspected of involvement in the image’s creation and distribution. According to Bennett’s office,the image began circulating widely on social media and messaging apps on January 24,2026.
Likud’s Response
The Likud party has denied any involvement in creating or distributing the image. A statement released by the party on january 25, 2026, called Bennett’s complaint “baseless” and “a desperate attempt to distract from his own political failings.” The Likud further accused Bennett of engaging in “fearmongering” and attempting to delegitimize legitimate political discourse. They stated they would cooperate fully with any police investigation.
Legal Ramifications
Under Israeli law, intentionally disseminating false information with the intent to harm someone’s reputation can result in both civil and criminal penalties. If found guilty of defamation, the individuals responsible could face fines and even imprisonment. The police have confirmed they are investigating the complaint and will be interviewing witnesses and examining digital evidence. The case number assigned to the investigation is 2026-0125-Bennett.
