Former Israeli PM Bennett adds two US advisors to campaign team, including Trump adviser

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Wednesday morning that he had recruited two American political consultants, George Birnbaum and Tony Fabrizio, to his campaign team. 

Both Birnbaum and Fabrizio previously worked with veteran political consultant Arthur Finkelstein, and also worked with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past. 

Fabrizio currently serves as an advisor and pollster to U.S. President Donald Trump, a role he held in the Trump's last two election campaigns. Birnbaum has been involved in Israeli election campaigns since 1996. 

Bennett's office highlighted the extensive experience of the two in a statement, saying, “George Birnbaum, the late Arthur Finkelstein's former partner and a veteran consultant who has participated in all national election campaigns in Israel since 1996, as well as in more than 20 national election campaigns around the world.” 

“Tony Fabrizio, a senior consultant and pollster who currently serves as an advisor and pollster to United States President Donald Trump, has experience in five United States presidential election campaigns,” the statement continued. 

According to Walla News, Fabrizio is joining Bennett’s campaign team with Trump’s knowledge and approval. 

Bennett said he hopes the two advisors will not only help him win the election, but also help unify the country. 

“I am proud and honored to add two successful and highly experienced advisors like Tony and George to my team. Their extensive experience in Israel and around the world will be of immense value to me and our team. I am confident that they will help lead us to victory, and thus also help heal and unite our country,” he commented. 

Aside from announcing his intention to run in the elections, and forming a political campaign team, Bennett has also begun to publicly confront Prime Minister Netanyahu in statements. 

In January, at a political event in Carmiel, Bennett invited Netanyahu to publicly debate him, saying, “I'm not looking to humiliate Netanyahu, but to replace him. I have to bring everyone and I don't want to trample on anyone – just win.” 

On Monday, at a political event in Rishon LeTziyon, Bennett criticized a group of political activists that came to protest outside his event, saying, “I suggested to him we have a confrontation, instead of this, he sends paid activists to interfere. Be a man, confront me on every issue and don't send others.” 

At the same event, Bennett ruled out partnering with Arab parties, as he did in his previous coalition government, which also included Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, Avigdor Liberman’s Israel Beitenu party, and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, along with several Arab parties. 

Explaining the decision, Bennett said that "after October 7, there is no mandate in the State of Israel to establish a government based on Arab parties.” 

Bennett continued, saying that he intends to lead a move to establish a Zionist unity government based on an "Alliance of Servants.” 

Recent political polling from various Israeli news sites has shown Bennett’s party would be the second largest party, trailing Netanyahu’s Likud party by only around two seats. Neither party would win a majority, and would be required to form a coalition. Bennett has also ruled out sitting in government with the ultra-Orthodox parties, over their refusal to compromise on the issue of enlistment for non-full time yeshivah students. 

While elections are not scheduled to until October 2026, some Israeli analysts believe the Haredi draft issue could lead to a collapse of the current coalition government before then.