Former PM Naftali Bennett Outlines New Security Vision Ahead of Elections

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, chairman of the "Together" party, presented his security strategy for a future government he would lead during a special party conference on Wednesday. Speaking alongside partner Yair Lapid, Bennett emphasized the growing importance of artificial intelligence capabilities, stating they could soon surpass the significance of nuclear weapons.

Bennett delivered what he called a "speech breaking conventional security concepts," identifying four flawed security assumptions he intends to overturn. He vowed to reverse the current northern security equation, where Hezbollah's attacks on Israel prompt Israeli strikes in Lebanon, by instead responding directly against Iran for any Hezbollah aggression. "If Hezbollah fires on us, we will fire on Iran," he declared.

Addressing the situation in Gaza, Bennett challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's characterization of Qatar as a "complex country." He proposed removing Turkey and Qatar's influence from Gaza and replacing them with Egypt, while maintaining Israel's freedom of operation in the area.

On the issue of violence and crime within Israel's Arab society, Bennett criticized the prevailing view that the problem is primarily criminal, highlighting the presence of some 500,000 illegal weapons inside Israel. He argued this threat should be treated as a security issue rather than a criminal one, calling for the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet to intervene and for declaring weaponized areas as closed military zones to clear them.

Bennett's proposals signal a shift toward a more assertive and technologically advanced security posture, aiming to reshape Israel's strategic responses and internal security policies if his party gains power.