Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Together party and a former prime minister, tried on Tuesday to blunt backlash from right-wing critics over remarks he made about settlements and outposts in Judea and Samaria. Speaking at the JNS conference in Jerusalem, he sought to present himself as firmly on the right despite the uproar.
“I am still right-wing, but I am not a schmuck,” Bennett said. “To be right-wing means standing on principles, not allowing a Palestinian state. But being right-wing does not mean being an idiot and tweeting nonstop.” He also reiterated that he opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and said Israel must retain freedom of military action in Lebanon.
On regional security, Bennett said Israel must be able to defend itself in Lebanon and cannot have the IDF operating “with one hand tied behind its back” when targeting terrorists. On relations with Washington, he said he could work well with US President Donald Trump, describing both men as pragmatic businessmen, but stressed that Israel must remain independent in its decisions and is not “a client state or vassal state.”
His comments came after a Haaretz interview on Channel 11 in which he said he supports legal construction in Area C on state land that is not privately owned by Palestinians, but opposes illegal building. “For me, legal construction in Area C on state land that is not private Palestinian land is welcome,” he said. When asked about farms and settlements built unlawfully, he answered, “What is not legal will not be.” The remarks drew sharp criticism from right-wing figures, including Finance Minister and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich, who argued that Bennett’s position would effectively lead to evacuating farms and settlements and could open the door to a future Palestinian entity.
