Naftali Bennett Pledges to Topple Iranian Regime in Next Israeli Government

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yachdav party and former Israeli prime minister, spoke at a conference in Herzliya, sharply criticizing current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's preparedness for confronting Iran. Bennett revealed that upon assuming office in June 2021, he found no briefing materials or strategic plan regarding Iran, describing his handover as lasting only about twenty minutes. He accused Netanyahu of failing to prepare Israel for Iran's advancing nuclear capabilities and said that during his tenure, he approved significant budgets for developing specialized weapons essential for potential strikes against Iran.

Bennett emphasized that without these decisions, Israel would lack the necessary armaments to act against Iran's nuclear program. He expressed frustration over Israel's vulnerability during his early months as prime minister, stating that while the country prospered externally, internally it was exposed to grave threats. Reflecting on the 1,000 days since the October 7 massacre, Bennett warned that Hamas and Hezbollah continue to strengthen, and the Iranian regime remains resilient.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the military draft law, Bennett condemned efforts to pass legislation he described as promoting draft evasion and discrimination, asserting that those pushing such laws have forfeited the right to call for a unity government. He pledged that in his next government, top strategic priority would be the overthrow of the Iranian regime before it acquires nuclear weapons, advocating for a comprehensive campaign targeting Iran's economic vulnerabilities beyond military strikes.