Bennett Rules Out Palestinian State, Vows Continued Settlement
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared he will not form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu and vowed to continue settling Judea and Samaria, rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. Bennett criticized Netanyahu's handling of Hamas and proposed expelling Qatar from Gaza. He also outlined plans to reallocate national funds towards IDF soldiers and reservists, emphasizing the importance of national service in the upcoming elections.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Naftali Bennett will not join a government with Benjamin Netanyahu and vows to continue settlement in Judea and Samaria.
- Bennett holds Netanyahu personally responsible for the October 7th massacre and criticized his policy towards Hamas.
- Bennett proposed eliminating Hamas by expelling Qatar from Gaza, calling Qatar an enemy.
- Bennett stated he is more assertive on security but more liberal on domestic issues, including LGBTQ+ rights.
- Bennett plans to redirect billions from non-serving citizens to IDF soldiers and reservists.
- Bennett ruled out forming a government reliant on Arab parties and advocated for term limits.
Three days before the elections, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated in an interview with i24NEWS that he would not agree to sit in a government with Benjamin Netanyahu and that his security and political stances are now more assertive than in the past. Bennett asserted that Netanyahu bears direct personal responsibility for the October 7th massacre, accusing him of empowering Hamas for 14 years by transferring monthly dollar shipments and evading accountability.
Addressing campaign dynamics, Bennett dismissed claims of sidelining Yair Lapid, calling him an excellent partner and former Foreign Minister. Bennett emphasized his own qualifications, highlighting his experience as Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Economy Minister, and Education Minister, along with a decade in high-tech and service in the Sayeret Matkal unit.
On security matters, Bennett declared, "I am not giving an inch of land in the Land of Israel to Arabs, I am not establishing a Palestinian state, and I will continue to settle Judea and Samaria." He criticized Netanyahu's policy of coexisting with Hamas, stating, "His current approach of living alongside Hamas is flawed in my eyes. Hamas must be eliminated." Bennett proposed that Qatar, which he sees as intertwined with Hamas, should be declared an enemy and expelled from Gaza and Israel.
Bennett also described a personal evolution, becoming more assertive on security and political issues but more liberal on domestic matters. He cited a change in his views on LGBTQ+ rights, stating he now supports full rights, contrasting with his past conservatism. He believes individuals who hold the same views at 56 as they did at 16 are "donkeys."
Focusing on national service, Bennett proposed redirecting tens of billions of shekels from those who do not serve in the IDF to soldiers and reservists, framing the election as a choice between funding those who serve and those who avoid it. He also indicated that any future government he leads would not rely on Arab parties and would require parties to support a state inquiry commission and term limits for prime ministers.
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