23-Year-Old Givatayim Man Arrested After Shoving Bennett Guard

A security dispute at a political rally in Tel Aviv ended in the arrest of a local resident on Saturday night. The incident occurred during an event hosted by Naftali Bennett, former prime minister and chairman of the B'Yachad party, who was campaigning for a commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre.

The suspect, a 23-year-old man from Givatayim, reportedly shouted 'Only Bibi' while attempting to breach the security perimeter. Witnesses described him as being under the influence of alcohol. He ignored instructions from the guards to stay back and tried to push toward Bennett and his staff.

After one of the bodyguards pushed the man away to maintain the line, the suspect confronted the guard. He then shoved the officer in return, escalating the situation from a verbal exchange to a physical altercation. The security team subdued the man and held him at the scene until law enforcement arrived.

Police officers took the suspect into custody at the park and transported him to a police station for questioning. An initial check revealed that the man has no prior criminal record. Investigators are currently reviewing the specific circumstances of the confrontation to determine if further charges are warranted.

Bennett served as prime minister from June 2021 to June 2022. The rally took place in the lead up to the 2026 Knesset elections. IDF soldiers began voting at military polling stations earlier this week, marking the start of the electoral process.