Guard Shoved at Bennett Tel Aviv Rally

Security teams surrounding former prime minister Naftali Bennett in Tel Aviv detained a 23-year-old man on Saturday night after a physical altercation. The incident occurred while Bennett addressed a crowd at a rally calling for a commission of inquiry into the events of October 7. The suspect, a resident of Givatayim, was taken into custody by police arriving at the park location.

Witnesses and sources described the man as appearing intoxicated. He shouted the slogan “Only Bibi,” a phrase associated with support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while attempting to move toward the former leader. Guards instructed him to stay back, but he continued advancing toward the security perimeter. The confrontation escalated when one officer pushed the suspect back, prompting him to shove the guard in return.

The security detail subdued the man and held him at the scene until officers arrived. Police arrested the suspect and transported him to a local station for questioning. An initial review of his file revealed no prior criminal record. Investigators are currently examining the specific circumstances of the push and the man's state of mind at the time of the arrest.

Bennett, who led the country from June 2021 to June 2022, chairs the B'Yachad party. The disruption at his rally arrives shortly before the national vote scheduled for 2026. Military personnel at polling stations cast their ballots earlier in the week, marking the start of the electoral process ahead of the general election.