Naftali Bennett campaigns for Israeli comeback

Bennett's vision for regional diplomacy

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is campaigning on a platform to expand the Abraham Accords and rebuild international relationships, particularly with the United States. According to 54-year-old former technology entrepreneur Bennett, his professional history will help him collaborate with President Donald Trump to promote regional diplomacy.

The campaign expressed confidence that Israel’s allies and Trump would embrace the chance to partner with Bennett. Their plan involves revitalizing the Negev Forum and broadening the Abraham Accords to bolster regional stability and security.

Bennett stated that he would vigorously seek regional pacts by leveraging economic cooperation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an endorsement from Trump for his re-election on October 18.

Citing his background as a businessman and prime minister, Bennett’s campaign asserted that he is the ideal leader to enhance Israel’s international reputation. Efrat Lachter, a reporter for Fox News Digital, has documented global affairs and political accountability for more than 15 years.

Economic and domestic policy manifesto

Bennett committed to reallocating 30 billion shekels in state benefits to families serving in the military and participating in the workforce in an October 25 manifesto. Additionally, he vowed to lower food costs by 30 percent, establish a state commission of inquiry regarding the October 7 attack, and implement an eight-year term limit for the office of prime minister.

Regarding security, Bennett promotes the "Octopus Doctrine," which advocates for direct action against Tehran. He stated, "If Hezbollah fires at us, we strike Iran" during an August 19 policy conference.

Bennett is against Palestinian statehood and advocates for keeping Israeli security oversight in Gaza until Hamas is disarmed. He proposes excluding Qatar and Turkey from future Gaza arrangements while involving Egypt.

Addressing extremist settler violence

"We need to eliminate Jewish terrorism in Judea and Samaria, and I say this precisely as a supporter of the settlement movement," Bennett remarked, noting that while extremists are not representative of most settlers, they inflict the most severe international harm.

He declared that he would order Israel’s top military, intelligence, and police officials to develop a strategy for curbing extremist violence within a three-day timeframe.

Political hurdles and coalition dynamics

Bennett pointed out that heading the biggest party is not a requirement for the premiership; he illustrated the efficacy of coalition talks by taking office in 2021 even though his Yamina party secured just seven of the 120 Knesset seats.

While his partnership with Yair Lapid provides him with a structured political apparatus, he is challenged by Benny Eisenkot and persistent criticism from Benjamin Netanyahu, who cautioned that a potential future opposition coalition might rely on Arab and left-wing parties.

Having once ascended to the premiership with merely seven seats, Bennett is currently attempting to persuade Israelis that he is back with improved preparation and a strategy capable of transforming Israel's position in the Middle East.

Bennett's political and business background

Bennett was born in Haifa to American immigrants and served in the Sayeret Matkal and Maglan units. He co-founded the cybersecurity company Cyota, which sold for $145 million in 2005.

He began his political career as chief of staff for Benjamin Netanyahu and later led the Yesha Council, which represents West Bank settlements. He served as economy, education and defense minister.

Bennett, a religious Zionist against Palestinian statehood, assembled a 2021 coalition comprising centrist, right-wing, Arab, and left-wing parties. This action ended Netanyahu’s 12-year rule. The coalition collapsed in 2022, and many supporters accused Bennett of betraying his electoral promises.

Bennett decided to return to politics in November 2023, following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Strategic advisor Einat Halevy Levin met with him at his home that month. Bennett spent the subsequent years building a political organization, screening candidates and developing governing infrastructure.

Levin said Bennett’s regional diplomacy draws on his business background and detailed knowledge of a neighboring country’s economy. During a Channel 13 interview conducted two days prior to the election, Bennett referenced previous encounters with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed as illustrations of the diplomatic efforts he aims to restore.

Expert analysis and shifting public sentiment

Citrinowicz cautioned that removing Netanyahu would be inadequate unless there is a structural shift in Israel’s approach to the Palestinians.

Public sentiment in the United States shows a shift in perspective. According to a Gallup poll from February 2026, 41% of Americans expressed more sympathy for Palestinians, while 36% favored Israelis. This five-point difference is statistically insignificant but marks a change from the long-standing pro-Israel advantage.

Bennett maintains a foreign policy that remains firmly on the Israeli right. In June, he told The Times of Israel that Donald Trump is “a businessman, not a career politician…let’s get stuff done…let’s look at results, not process”.

Bennett recently appeared on Fox News with Harris Faulkner to discuss the inquiry into a mid-air pilot stabbing incident, which forced a flight bound for Israel into a nosedive prior to passenger intervention.