From elite commando to prime minister: the unconventional rise of Naftali Bennett
In short: Before navigating the complexities of Israeli politics, Naftali Bennett operated behind enemy lines. A former commando in elite IDF units, he transitioned from high-tech entrepreneurship to the highest office in Israel, orchestrating a historic, fragile unity government that briefly reshaped the nation's political landscape.
Naftali Bennett’s trajectory is marked by sharp pivots between high-stakes sectors. After serving in the Sayeret Matkal and Maglan special forces units during the 1990s, he pursued a law degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He then entered the tech world, co-founding the anti-fraud software company Cyota in 1999, which he sold in 2005 for $145 million.
His political ascent began in 2006 as chief of staff to Benjamin Netanyahu. Bennett later became a prominent voice for religious right-wing interests, serving as director general of the Yesha Council from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, he led the Jewish Home party to a historic victory, securing 12 seats in the Knesset. He was known for his controversial 'Stability Initiative,' which proposed annexing Area C of the West Bank and restricting Palestinians to urban enclaves, a plan that rejected the two-state solution.
In 2021, Bennett emerged as a 'kingmaker' following the fourth general election in two years. He joined a diverse coalition with Yair Lapid, uniting left- and right-wing parties to unseat Netanyahu. This fragile unity government, which included a party representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, faced immediate tension over West Bank settlement outposts. Despite passing a landmark budget in November 2021 that invested over $9 billion in Arab communities, the coalition collapsed in 2022. The dissolution was triggered by internal defections and the inability to renew emergency regulations governing the West Bank, leading Bennett to call for early elections.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Naftali Bennett | Biography, Politics, Party, Israel, Palestinians, & Benjamin Netanyahu | Britannica
- Also: Naftali Bennett
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