Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addressed the considerations behind forming the change government and the partnership with Ra'am at a conference he held at Mofet Hall in Rishon LeZion, saying: "I'm pained that I hurt people, but I stand behind my considerations. I stand behind the decision." According to him, "I gave Netanyahu the votes, and he only had 59. He called me to Balfour and asked: 'Agree to sit with Mansour Abbas, I'm turning to all the coalition heads.' He met with Abbas about four times. He said 'It's like Sadat, a new leader.'"