Naftali Bennett Vows to Continue Campaigning After Violent Incident

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, now chairman of the "Achva" party, has declared he will not be intimidated by violence following an incident during a campaign visit to Bnei Brak. Bennett stated on his X account that "no violence will stop me," referencing an event on Thursday night where objects were thrown at him and a staff member was injured. He emphasized that the attacker does not represent the broader Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, stating, "a violent minority will not frighten us." Bennett affirmed his commitment to visiting all parts of Israel to listen to citizens and concluded, "I am not afraid to hear harsh words, and I am not afraid of threats. We continue with all our might towards the correction."

The incident occurred at the "Motis" restaurant during a visit where Bennett was speaking with yeshiva students. The gathering escalated into a commotion with shouts of "anti-Semite." A salt shaker was thrown, narrowly missing Bennett but hitting a female staff member on the head. She required medical attention from Magen David Adom paramedics at the scene. Police responded and immediately arrested a suspect.

During the same visit, Bennett also had a confrontation with an activist named Mordechai David, who attempted to block his path. Bennett responded by addressing the issue of draft exemptions, telling the activist, "I suggest you enlist quickly because from the moment I am prime minister, you will not receive a shekel from the state."