Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who is preparing for elections, said in an interview with Saul Amsterdamski’s program "Menganon" that if he and his party lose, "I don't know what will happen to the State of Israel." He presented himself as the candidate best suited to replace the current government and argued that he is not driven by the premiership itself, but by the need to rescue the country from what he called a path of destruction.
Bennett said voters would get the same leader they saw for 13 months in office, only "upgraded," with better work plans and political lessons. He said that within 100 days he would "launch Israel" and solve problems no previous generation had solved. He also said he would not risk Israel for a Palestinian state, but would not allow illegal outposts or unlawful construction, adding, "What is illegal, will not be, and will be evacuated." He said legal building in Area C is welcome, while Areas A and B should become part of a Palestinian autonomy.
On regional diplomacy, Bennett said a future government could create an Israeli-Saudi strategic alignment and broader regional optimism, but only if Israel changes its behavior. He argued that provocative statements by ministers raise Palestinian demands and damage Israel’s standing. He said he had achieved a historic speed in sealing a free trade agreement with the UAE under Mohamed bin Zayed, and claimed a new atmosphere could take months, or a year, to build.
On the war, Bennett said Israel should avoid long wars because they exhaust the economy, reserves and international support, noting that U.S. public opinion is now more negative than positive toward Israel for the first time. He said he would launch a diplomatic offensive, declare no territorial ambitions in Gaza or Lebanon, and pursue "a new Lebanon" and "a new Gaza" while destroying Hamas en route. Against Iran, he rejected further kinetic escalation and instead called for long-term pressure, including economic, diplomatic, cyber and intelligence measures to accelerate regime collapse before it gets nuclear weapons.
Bennett also said he now supports a full constitution for Israel, including rules for legislation, judicial appointments and a bill of rights rooted in the Declaration of Independence. He said the central domestic challenge is integrating the ultra-Orthodox, arguing that the state is funding education that is anti-Zionist and anti-democratic. He called the next four to eight years a final window, saying, "It's now or never."
