Katef el Katef (Shoulder to Shoulder) co-founder Yonatan Shalev will run in the upcoming Knesset election with former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s party, Bennett said Wednesday.
Shalev’s organization represents young Israelis and reservists serving in the IDF. It advocates for universal conscription and legislation to enforce haredi (ultra-Orthodox) enlistment.
Bennett’s party has been trailing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud in recent polls. The election is expected no later than the end of October.
As part of the agreement, Shalev, 23, is expected to be placed in a prominent position on Bennett’s Knesset list and take on a leadership role within his party.
Bennett's platform a 'natural political home,' Katef el Katef says
Shalev is the third public figure to join Bennett’s list this week. On Sunday, former government directors-general Keren Terner and Liran Avisar Ben-Horin joined his list.
Terner served as director-general of the Communications Ministry, and Ben-Horin served as director-general of both the Finance and Transportation ministries.
Katef el Katef said it views Bennett’s platform as a natural political home for advancing its goals, notably support for those who serve in the IDF and opposition to policies perceived as increasing their burden.
“We will stand up for Israel’s young generation,” it said. “We have joined former prime minister Naftali Bennett because he is the only one who has proven he can fix Israel and build a better future for young Israelis.”
The group publicly endorsed Bennett’s candidacy for prime minister.
Katef el Katef was founded in 2024 amid debates over controversial haredi conscription legislation. It said it has mobilized tens of thousands of young Israelis in civic activism, focused on protecting the interests of those who serve in the IDF.
The organization’s leaders, including Shalev, Ido Keren, Shahar Varon, and Hanania Ben-Shimon, have led campaigns against legislation that would exempt haredim from serving, joined debates in the Knesset, and worked to expand public engagement on the issue of universal conscription.
Bennett praised the younger generation’s role in recent national challenges, such as taking action during the October 7 massacre.
“On October 7, when Israel’s leadership collapsed, the younger generation rose up, fought, and saved the State of Israel,” he said.
“We discovered that we have the best young generation in the country’s history,” he added. “Looking to the day after, we need the energy of this remarkable generation to rebuild Israel.”
Shalev said his decision to join Bennett’s party had been a response to the current situation.
“On behalf of our generation and in the name of the friends we lost in battle, we are answering the call of the hour and stepping forward to bring about change,” he said.
Shalev said Bennett was “the only leader who can restore the nation and rebuild the state.”
“We will represent young people with honor and responsibility, and do everything we can so that one day we can look our children in the eye and say: We were there, we built, we saved,” he said.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) congratulated Shalev for entering politics.
Jon Polin, father of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, praised Bennett’s decision to add Shalev to his party.
“I have sat and spoken with Yonatan Shalev and highly respect him and Katef el Katef,” he posted on X/Twitter. “This is a great addition for Naftali Bennett. Regardless of what you think of the individuals involved in this announcement, all of Israel should take a moment to celebrate the young generation jumping into politics.
“It is our impressive young people, especially those so deeply impacted by war since October 7, who will lead the revolution for good here.”
Bennett became prime minister in June 2021 after forming a rotation government with Lapid. After his government collapsed a year later, he stepped away from political life.
In a move to return to politics ahead of the upcoming election, Bennett officially registered his new party, Bennett 2026, in April 2025.
He has criticized the government’s advancement of the controversial draft legislation, calling for universal conscription.
Bennett has said he would not form another government with Arab parties and would only partner with Zionist parties.
Last month, Bennett told The Jerusalem Post he would only form a government with those who serve in the IDF, effectively ruling out the haredi parties.