Naftali Bennett Warns AI Will Surpass Nuclear Weapons in Security Importance

At a security and foreign policy conference held by the Yachdav party, former Prime Minister and Defense Minister Naftali Bennett outlined his security vision and sharply criticized Qatar. Bennett identified four flawed security concepts and proposed corrections, emphasizing that artificial intelligence capabilities will soon be more critical than nuclear weapons. He described AI as the next arms race among global powers and pledged that Israel will not fall behind despite the current government's lag over the past four years.

Bennett labeled Qatar as an enemy state, accusing it of financing the October 7 massacre and actively working to destroy Israel. He stated, "Qatar is not a complex state but a simple enemy state. Anyone who fails to recognize this after October 7 is unfit to lead Israel." Regarding Hezbollah, Bennett warned that any attack from Hezbollah on Israel would prompt retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting Iranian "tentacles" within Israel's borders, with a "price tag" response inside Iran itself.

He challenged the prevailing assumption that Iran only retaliates against Israel for attacks in Lebanon, proposing instead that any Hezbollah aggression should trigger Israeli strikes on Iran. Bennett also criticized the current policy of allowing Turkey and Qatar to manage Gaza's border communities and the peace council, advocating for their removal and replacement by Egypt while maintaining operational freedom in Gaza.

Addressing the issue of illegal weapons within Israel, Bennett revealed that approximately 500,000 illegal firearms circulate inside the country. He condemned the government's treatment of this as a criminal rather than a security issue and called for military and Shin Bet intervention, including declaring areas with illegal arms as closed military zones until cleared.

Bennett's speech reflects a hardline security stance, emphasizing proactive measures against regional threats and technological advancements in defense.