Bennett Says He Would Have Done Everything Differently in Relations With the U.S. and Iran

Former prime minister and Yesh Atid? no, former prime minister and leader of the Yachad party, Naftali Bennett, sharply attacked Israel's right-wing government on Monday and presented what he called his vision for change. He said the leadership had disappointed during the war and claimed Netanyahu's term began with civil strife, continued with the October 7 massacre, and is ending in a historic failure against Iran.

Asked what he would do differently, Bennett replied, "Everything." He said that diplomatically he would use his standing with what he described as "the most pro-Israel president we have ever had" solely for Israel's interests. Militarily, he said he would return to a security doctrine based on "quick, strong and decisive" wars, rather than Netanyahu's "dragging strategy."

Bennett also said that internationally he would restore the national public diplomacy headquarters he created during his time as prime minister. He said that body worked "professionally and cleverly," but the current government dismantled it. He added that he would not allow "TikTok ministers," as he called them, to carry out "public diplomacy attacks everywhere."

On Iran and the country's regional network, Bennett called for renewing, "with full force," the "octopus doctrine," which he said he began implementing while in office. He said the policy has two goals, blocking Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and accelerating the fall of the Iranian regime through diplomatic, economic, technological and military means. Bennett concluded that "the countdown to replacing the regime in Iran will begin the moment the government in Israel is replaced," and said Israeli voters will soon choose a new, energetic and determined leadership.