Bennett Adds Trump Adviser and Netanyahu Veterans to Campaign Team

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Wednesday that two heavyweight American political consultants Anthony Fabrizio and George Birnbaum are joining his campaign team ahead of Israel’s upcoming national elections.

Fabrizio, a veteran Republican pollster and key adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, brings years of high-stakes campaign experience, having led polling efforts for both the 2016 and 2024 Trump presidential campaigns. His addition signals Bennett’s intent to bolster his international credentials and appeal to conservative voters aligned with pro-Trump sentiment.

George Birnbaum, meanwhile, is a familiar face in Israeli politics, having worked on every general election in Israel since 1996. A former chief of staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and seasoned global strategist, Birnbaum’s experience spans over 20 national campaigns across multiple countries.

Their recruitment is widely seen as a strategic move to tighten the race with Netanyahu, who remains Bennett’s chief political rival. By bringing in two figures deeply connected to the Likud leader’s own past campaigns both worked closely with Netanyahu and the late Republican strategist Arthur Finkelstein—Bennett is not only building a powerful advisory team but also sending a clear message: he intends to compete at the highest level.

“I’m proud and honored to add two highly successful and experienced advisers like Tony and George to my team,” Bennett said in a statement. “Their extensive experience in Israel and around the world will be of enormous value. I am confident they will help lead us to victory and, in doing so, also help heal and unite our country.”

Finkelstein, who passed away in 2017, played a legendary role in Netanyahu’s first election victory in 1996 and later became a mentor to both Birnbaum and Fabrizio. Their addition is seen by analysts as an attempt by Bennett to reclaim some of that strategic edge in what promises to be a tightly contested election.

Bennett’s new right-wing party, Bennett 2026, is trailing Netanyahu’s Likud in recent polls, but with elections expected no later than the end of October, campaign dynamics are rapidly shifting.

By recruiting Fabrizio and Birnbaum, Bennett is staking his claim not just as a comeback candidate but as a serious contender capable of challenging the political status quo with precision, professionalism, and broad appeal.

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