Former prime minister Naftali Bennett announced that two senior American political consultants and pollsters, Anthony Fabrizio and George Birnbaum, were joining his campaign team on Wednesday ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.
Fabrizio currently serves as a central adviser and pollster to US President Donald Trump. He also served as Trump's pollster during both the 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.
Birnbaum has taken part in every nationwide election campaign in Israel since 1996, as well as in more than 20 national election campaigns around the world, Bennett’s office said.
The additions are seen as a way to put pressure on rival candidate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, political sources say. The move is also viewed as a way for Bennett to get closer to key figures and demonstrate that he can work with Trump.
Both Fabrizio and Birnbaum have previously advised Netanyahu
Fabrizio and Birnbaum have both advised Netanyahu in the past. Birnbaum also served as his chief of staff.
Bennett’s office underscored that the two also worked with Arthur Finkelstein, a Republican Party consultant who represented conservative and right-wing candidates worldwide.
Bennett said that he was “proud and honored to add two highly successful and experienced advisers like Tony and George to my team."
“Their extensive experience in Israel and around the world will be of enormous value to me and to our team.”
“I am confident they will help lead us to victory and, in doing so, also help heal and unite our country,” Bennett added.
Bennett's right-wing party, Bennett 2026, has been trailing Netanyahu's Likud in recent polls. The elections are currently slated to take place no later than the end of October 2026.